MACV–SOG Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill would authorize a single Congressional Gold Medal to be presented by Congress to the service members of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during the Vietnam War in South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The Speaker of the House and the Senate President pro tempore would arrange the presentation, and the Secretary of the Treasury would design and strike the medal. After presentation, the medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a sense that the Smithsonian should make it available for display at relevant MACV-SOG events. The bill also authorizes bronze duplicates for sale to cover costs, with proceeds deposited back into the Mint Public Enterprise Fund. The act designates the medals as national medals and numismatic items under U.S. law. The bill relies on extensive findings about MACV-SOG’s history, including its risky, covert operations and its impact on U.S. and North Vietnamese military dynamics, and notes notable honors already awarded to MACV-SOG members (e.g., Medal of Honor recipients and a Presidential Unit Citation).