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Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

USA119th CongressS-262| Senate 
| Updated: 1/27/2025
Marsha Blackburn

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Senator

Tennessee

Cosponsors (7)
Tom Cotton (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Ted Budd (Republican)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act, seeks to posthumously honor Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds with a Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition is for his extraordinary heroism and defiance during World War II, specifically while he was a prisoner of war. During his captivity in Stalag IX-A, a German POW camp, Edmonds, as the senior noncommissioned officer, was ordered by Nazi forces to identify and separate Jewish-American soldiers from the general prisoner population. Defying these orders, Edmonds commanded all 1,292 American prisoners to stand together, famously stating, " We are all Jews here ." His courageous refusal, even when threatened with execution, saved the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American servicemen, preventing their transfer to labor camps or worse. Edmonds was later posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem as "Righteous Among the Nations" for his actions. The legislation authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the medal's posthumous presentation to Edmonds' next of kin. The Secretary of the Treasury is directed to design and strike the gold medal, and is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates to the public. Funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund will cover the medal's costs, with proceeds from duplicate sales returning to the fund.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-642
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1134
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1230
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act
Jan 27, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Feb 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-921
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-642
    Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1134
    Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1230
    Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act


  • January 27, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 27, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


  • February 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-921
    Introduced in House

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 119-921: Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act
Conflicts and warsCongressional tributesMilitary historyMilitary personnel and dependents

Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

USA119th CongressS-262| Senate 
| Updated: 1/27/2025
This bill, titled the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act, seeks to posthumously honor Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds with a Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition is for his extraordinary heroism and defiance during World War II, specifically while he was a prisoner of war. During his captivity in Stalag IX-A, a German POW camp, Edmonds, as the senior noncommissioned officer, was ordered by Nazi forces to identify and separate Jewish-American soldiers from the general prisoner population. Defying these orders, Edmonds commanded all 1,292 American prisoners to stand together, famously stating, " We are all Jews here ." His courageous refusal, even when threatened with execution, saved the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American servicemen, preventing their transfer to labor camps or worse. Edmonds was later posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem as "Righteous Among the Nations" for his actions. The legislation authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the medal's posthumous presentation to Edmonds' next of kin. The Secretary of the Treasury is directed to design and strike the gold medal, and is also authorized to strike and sell bronze duplicates to the public. Funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund will cover the medal's costs, with proceeds from duplicate sales returning to the fund.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-642
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1134
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1230
Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act
Jan 27, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Feb 4, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-921
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-642
    Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1134
    Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1230
    Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act


  • January 27, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 27, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


  • February 4, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-921
    Introduced in House
Marsha Blackburn

Marsha Blackburn

Republican Senator

Tennessee

Cosponsors (7)
Tom Cotton (Republican)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Ted Budd (Republican)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

Related Bills

  • HR 119-921: Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Conflicts and warsCongressional tributesMilitary historyMilitary personnel and dependents