Bill > S567

This bill seeks to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment in recognition of their exceptional service during the Revolutionary War. The bill highlights the regiment's unique and groundbreaking composition, which was among the first integrated military units in American history, recruiting nearly 200 men of African, Indigenous, and European descent during a critical period in 1778. During the winter at Valley Forge, when the Continental Army struggled with recruitment, Rhode Island passed a revolutionary law allowing enslaved Black, Indigenous, and mixed-race men to enlist, with the promise of freedom upon service. The regiment distinguished itself notably at the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778, where they heroically held back Hessian forces. The proposed gold medal will be designed by the Secretary of the Treasury and subsequently given to the Rhode Island State Library for preservation and display, with a recommendation that it be made available for exhibition at other relevant historical sites. The bill also authorizes the U.S. Mint to create and sell duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs, and specifies that these medals will be considered national and numismatic items. By honoring the First Rhode Island Regiment, the bill recognizes a pivotal moment in American history that demonstrated early steps toward racial integration and equality in military service.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/567/all-info