James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill would authorize a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for James Earl Jones in recognition of his life and career, highlighting his role in reshaping perceptions, breaking racial barriers, and advocating for equal opportunities in film and theatre. It lays out the process for presenting the medal (to be arranged by the Speaker of the House and the Senate’s President pro tempore), design details to be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, and the disposition of the medal to Jones’s son, Flynn Earl Jones, after presentation. The bill also allows for bronze duplicates to be struck and sold to recover costs, with proceeds going back to the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund. The legislation frames the medal as a national, numismatic (collectible) item. The bill’s findings section traces Jones’s life—from a stutter and early poetry to military service, stage work, iconic voice roles, and multiple major awards—framing the award as recognition of his contributions to American culture and progress toward inclusion in the arts.