HR 1933
James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act
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Bill overview
This bill awards a posthumous congressional gold medal to James Earl Jones, a renowned American actor, in recognition of his significant contributions to film and theater. The medal honors his career, which included iconic roles, advocacy for equal opportunities, and breaking down racial barriers. The medal will be presented to his son, Flynn Earl Jones, and duplicate bronze medals may be sold to raise funds for the program.
Key provisions
- Authorizes the issuance of a gold congressional medal to James Earl Jones.
- Specifies the design of the medal, including an image and inscription of his name.
- Directs the medal to be presented posthumously to his son, Flynn Earl Jones.
- Permits the Treasury Department to strike and sell duplicate bronze medals for fundraising purposes.
- Designates medals struck under this Act as national medals.
- Authorizes the use of funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover the costs of the medals.
- Specifies that proceeds from the sale of duplicate medals will be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Who is affected
- James Earl Jones (deceased)
- His son, Flynn Earl Jones
- The United States Mint
- The entertainment industry
- Advocates for diversity and inclusion
Notable changes
- Establishes a formal Congressional recognition of James Earl Jones's career and impact.
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 1933
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To award posthumously a congressional gold medal to James Earl Jones, an American icon, in recognition of a remarkable life in reshaping perceptions, dismantling racial barriers, and advocating for equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds in film and theatre.
This Act may be cited as the James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act
.
Congress finds the following:
James Earl Jones, born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla Township, Mississippi, was raised largely by his grandparents after his father left. Following the family’s move to Michigan, he developed a serious stutter that led to him rarely speaking.
James Earl Jones started writing poetry while still in school and used this to break free of his stutter. Inspired by the grapefruit that the Federal Government gave to Mississippians during the wartime shortage, Jones penned a poem titled Ode to Grapefruit
. Jones continued to write, play, and compete and as a result, he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Michigan and won a public speaking competition.
Jones enlisted in the Army in 1953 and reported to Fort Benning, Georgia, for Ranger School and the Officers Basic Course. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Following his training, Jones was tasked with assisting in the establishment of a cold weather training command at the defunct Camp Hale in Colorado.
Jones relocated to New York City and took a job as a janitor to support himself while attending the American Theatre Wing after receiving an honorable discharge as a first lieutenant.
Jones’ Broadway debut was in 1957, where he performed in several Shakespeare plays, including Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear. In 1963, Jones received his first major nomination, receiving a Primetime Emmy Awards nomination for his role in East Side/West Side
.
Dr. Strangelove
, directed by Stanley Kubrick, was Jones’ feature picture debut.
Jones’ performance in the play The Great White Hope
, which was about the first Black heavyweight boxing champion, earned him his first Tony Award in 1969.
Throughout his career, Jones has provided the voices of well-known global characters, such as Mufasa in the animated film The Lion King
and Darth Vader in the Star Wars
series.
Throughout his professional life, Jones has been nominated for two Academy Awards, five Tony Awards, eight Primetime Emmy Awards, three Grammy Awards, and five Golden Globe Awards.
Jones was one of the rare performers to have received an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). Jones was honored with three Tony Awards, an Honorary Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
In 1985, Jones was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
In 1992, President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush presented Jones with the National Medal of the Arts at the White House in recognition of his career.
In 2002, Jones was selected to be a recipient of the 2002 Kennedy Center Honors for his contributions to the cultural life of the Nation at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
On May 12 2009, President and First Lady Obama invited James Earl Jones to perform Shakespeare’s Othello
at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word.
On September 12, 2022, the Cort Theatre, a Broadway theater in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre.
James Earl Jones has been recognized for his independence, activism, and groundbreaking achievements and has been described as one of the greatest actors in American history.
James Earl Jones’ career showcases talent and resilience in an industry that historically faced challenges related to representation.
For purposes of the presentation described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the Secretary
) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary. The design shall bear an image of, and inscription of the name of, James Earl Jones.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
Medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
For purposes of section 5134 and section 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this Act.
Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.