text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``RCAF/RAF-Americans Congressional 
  Gold Medal Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) Europe was at war before the end of 1939. England and 
          her British Commonwealth of Nations, which included the 
          Dominion of Canada, were warring with Nazi Germany.
              (2) Early in World War II the Royal Canadian Air Force 
          (RCAF) needed large numbers of pilots and the British 
          Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) made Canada a center for 
          aircrew training.
              (3) Approximately 8,864 Americans volunteered to join the 
          RCAF beginning as early as 1940 and continuing throughout World 
          War II. These RCAF-Americans came from every state in the 
          Union.
              (4) Many of the RCAF-Americans were urgently needed as 
          flying instructors and helped to fully staff the BCATP 
          operations.
              (5) Approximately 750 Americans (244 with the highly 
          regarded Eagle Squadrons) also served in Great Britain with the 
          RAF. The Eagle Squadrons served from February, 1941, until 
          September, 1942, and provided the British welcome relief from 
          the stress of losing large numbers of combat pilots.
              (6) President Franklin Roosevelt called the BCATP the 
          ``Aerodrome Of Democracy''. Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie 
          King, General Dwight Eisenhower, and British Prime Minister 
          Winston Churchill, all expressed their gratitude to the United 
          States men and women who took part in the British Commonwealth 
          Air Training Plan.
              (7) Approximately 3,794 Americans transferred to the U.S. 
          Army Air Force (USAAF) after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The 3 
          Eagle Squadrons (No.71/No.121/No.133), transferred into the 4th 
          Fighter Group, USAAF in September 1942.
              (8) The transfer of these courageous RCAF/RAF-Americans 
          helped prevent a shortage of experienced airmen in the 
          aftermath of America's entry into the war.
              (9) Many of these highly trained and experienced RCAF/RAF-
          Americans pilots performed crucial roles as flight instructors 
          for the USAAF.
              (10) The accumulated knowledge and skills possessed by 
          these RCAF/RAF-American airmen resulted in many becoming highly 
          accomplished USAAF combat pilots.
              (11) One of the most highly decorated military groups, the 
          American Fighter Aces, can count many of these RCAF/RAF-
          Americans among their venerable ranks.
              (12) These brave Americans left their families to join the 
          RCAF/RAF and over 800 lost their lives while serving. They 
          represent the exceptional courage that has been displayed in 
          the defense of Freedom throughout our Nation's history.
  
  SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
  
      (a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of 
  Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make 
  appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the 
  Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration 
  of all U.S. nationals who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force or the 
  Royal Air Force during World War II, both before and after Japan's 
  attack on Pearl Harbor, in recognition of their contributions to the 
  Nation.
      (b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred 
  to 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.
      (c) Smithsonian Institution.--
              (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal 
          under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the 
          Smithsonian Institution, where it will be available for display 
          as appropriate and available for research.
              (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of the Congress 
          that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal 
          awarded pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere, 
          particularly at appropriate locations associated with the U.S. 
          nationals described under subsection (a), and that preference 
          should be given to locations affiliated with the Smithsonian 
          Institution.
  
  SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
  
      The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold 
  medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations as the 
  Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost 
  thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and 
  overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
  
  SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
  
      (a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this Act are 
  national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States 
  Code.
      (b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, 
  United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be 
  considered to be numismatic items.
target: RCAF/RAF-Americans Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of all U.S. nationals who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force or the Royal Air Force during World War II.
feat_title: RCAF/RAF-Americans Congressional Gold Medal Act