New Act Authorizes Charles B. Rangel Congressional Gold Medal, Bronze Duplicates Available to Public

This legislation, the Charles B. Rangel Congressional Gold Medal Act, is a straightforward bill focused on formal recognition. It authorizes Congress to award a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to the late Congressman Charles B. Rangel, recognizing his extensive military service—including the Bronze Star with Valor from the Korean War—and his long legislative career that shaped programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Affordable Care Act.

The bill specifies that the gold medal will be presented at a ceremony and then go directly to his children, Steven Rangel and Alicia Rangel (SEC. 3). This is purely a ceremonial honor, one of the highest civilian awards Congress can bestow, and it serves as a formal acknowledgment of a career that spanned decades and included major policy wins in healthcare, trade (like the African Growth and Opportunity Act), and veteran support.

The Medal and the Mint’s Bottom Line

While the main point is the honor, the bill includes some practical administrative details that affect the U.S. Mint and collectors. The Secretary of the Treasury is responsible for designing and striking the gold medal. Crucially, the bill also allows the Treasury to create and sell bronze duplicates of this medal to the public (SEC. 4). This isn't just about selling souvenirs; it’s about making sure the production costs are covered.

The price of these bronze duplicates must be set high enough to recoup all costs involved in making them, including labor, materials, machinery use, and general overhead expenses. Any money made from selling these duplicates goes straight back into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, which is the fund authorized to pay for the initial production costs (SEC. 6). Essentially, the bill ensures the cost of producing this high honor is offset by the sale of collectible duplicates, making the process cost-neutral to the taxpayer.

What This Means for You (If You’re a Collector)

For the average person, this bill doesn't change much, but if you are a collector of numismatic items—that’s the fancy word for coins and medals—this is a heads-up. The medals struck under this Act are officially classified as "national medals" and, more importantly, as "numismatic items" (SEC. 5). This means they are treated as official government collectibles.

If you want a piece of history recognizing Rangel's service—from leading troops to safety in Korea to chairing the powerful Ways and Means Committee—you will eventually have the chance to purchase a bronze copy. The bill is highly specific and low on vagueness, meaning the process for this honor and the subsequent sale of duplicates is clearly laid out, making it mostly an administrative formality wrapped around a significant historical tribute.