# United States Colored Troops Congressional Gold Medal Act

This bill authorizes Congress to award a special Congressional Gold Medal to honor the United States Colored Troops—the African American soldiers who served in the Civil War. This is a formal recognition of their military service and sacrifice during one of the most important periods in American history.

The United States Colored Troops were Black soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War, despite facing severe discrimination and often being paid less than white soldiers for the same work. Many of them were formerly enslaved people who risked their lives to fight for the Union cause and, ultimately, for their own freedom. This medal serves as an official acknowledgment from the federal government of their courage and contribution to preserving the nation.

The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian honors the United States can bestow. It's a physical medal that gets displayed in museums and serves as a permanent reminder of these soldiers' legacy. While this bill doesn't provide direct financial benefits to individuals, it carries significant symbolic weight—it tells the historical record that Congress recognizes and honors these men's service. The medal typically gets placed in the Smithsonian Institution so future generations can learn about and remember their contributions. This is essentially Congress saying that the sacrifice of the United States Colored Troops matters and deserves to be remembered as an important part of American military and civil rights history.

United States Colored Troops Congressional Gold Medal Act

Norton, Eleanor Holmes

United States Colored Troops Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal to the African Americans who served with Union forces in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during the Civil War.