Bill > HR1502

This bill seeks to honor the remarkable volunteer efforts of individuals and communities who supported the North Platte Canteen during World War II by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. The bill highlights the extraordinary humanitarian efforts of residents in North Platte, Nebraska, who, from December 25, 1941, to April 1, 1946, provided free food, entertainment, and hospitality to approximately 6 million U.S. troops traveling across the country. The canteen, which operated without federal assistance, was run primarily by 55,000 volunteers from 125 communities in Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, who donated extensive food supplies and personal time. The bill recognizes the canteen's significant morale-boosting role during wartime, noting that volunteers served tens of thousands of food items daily and raised $137,000 through various fundraising efforts. Under the bill, the Speaker of the House and Senate President pro tempore will present a gold medal designed by the Secretary of the Treasury, which will then be displayed at the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte. The Secretary is also authorized to create and sell duplicate bronze medals to cover production costs, with proceeds deposited into the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1502/all-info