Bill > HR763

This bill aims to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell in recognition of their extraordinary bravery during the Civil War. The bill provides detailed historical context about the "Great Locomotive Chase," a daring military raid on April 12, 1862, where Andrews and 24 Union volunteers commandeered a Confederate locomotive named the "General" to disrupt Confederate supply lines. Andrews and Campbell, the only civilian members of this group, were captured, tried, and executed for their mission. The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike a gold medal commemorating their heroic actions, with the medal to be presented by the Speaker of the House and the Senate President pro tempore. After the presentation, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display and research, with a recommendation to exhibit it at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Museum. The bill also allows for the production and sale of duplicate bronze medals to cover the costs of production. Notably, most of the Raiders were eventually awarded Medals of Honor, with President Biden recognizing their valor in 2024, emphasizing that their heroic deeds had gone unacknowledged for over a century.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/763/all-info