Gold medal bill honors trailblazing civil rights lawyer Constance Baker Motley

What does this do?

HR 5309 directs Congress to award a congressional gold medal to Constance Baker Motley, a civil rights lawyer who died in 2005. The U.S. Treasury Department would create the medal, which would be presented to her son and niece at a formal ceremony. The U.S. Mint would also be authorized to produce and sell bronze copies of the medal to the public.

Who does it affect?

The bill directly affects Motley's son and niece, who would receive the medal. The U.S. Mint would design and produce the medals, and members of the public interested in history or collecting could purchase bronze copies.

Why does it matter?

Motley helped win landmark civil rights cases including Brown v. Board of Education and became the first Black woman elected to the New York State Senate, the first woman to serve as Manhattan Borough President, and the first Black woman appointed to a federal judgeship. The congressional gold medal is one of the highest honors Congress can give to a civilian, making this bill a formal national recognition of her lifetime of public service.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• Gold medal funded by existing Mint fund
• Bronze sales revenue returned to Mint fund
• No added cost to taxpayers

Where does it stand?