First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act
Revolutionary War: Honors for the First Rhode Island Regiment
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill proposes awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment. This is the highest honor Congress can give to recognize distinguished achievements and contributions to American history.
- The regiment was a unique unit during the Revolutionary War that included Black and Indigenous soldiers. In 1778, Rhode Island allowed enslaved men to join the unit, granting them immediate freedom in exchange for their military service.
- The unit is recognized for its bravery in major battles, including the Battle of Rhode Island, where they held back enemy forces. These soldiers served for five years until the end of the war in 1783.
- After the war, many of these veterans faced significant challenges, including fighting for their promised back wages and resisting efforts by others to force them back into slavery.
- If the bill passes, the gold medal will be displayed at the Rhode Island State Library. The U.S. Mint would also be allowed to sell bronze copies of the medal to the public to help pay for the cost of the program.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
America's smallest state had a big role to play in the country's independence - The Boston Globe
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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