U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
HB1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
Status: In committee, February 26, 2025
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit.
What the bill says
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit.
From the introduced text, February 26, 2025:
A BILL To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act . SECTION 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) The 761st Tank Battalion, known as the Black Panthers , was activated on April 1, 1942, and served as the first predominantly Black American armored battalion in the European Theater of World War II until its deactivation on June 1, 1946, in Germany. (2) Lieutenant Jackie Robinson, the first Black Major League baseball player, was among the few Black officers in the 761st, but he was court martialed before seeing combat for an act of civil disobedience in refusing to move to the back of a bus. (3) Despite resistance from many top-level American politicians and military officers, the 761st served valiantly under Lieutenant General George S. Patton. (4) In his welcoming speech, Patton said, I would never have asked for you if you weren't good. I have nothing but the best in my Army. I don't care what color you are …
Sponsors
- Gary Palmer (R, HD-AL-6) · primary sponsor
- Terri Sewell (D, HD-007)
- Ron Estes (R, HD-004)
- Stephanie Bice (R)
- Neal Dunn (R, HD-002)
- Pete Stauber (R, HD-008)
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R, HD-001)
- Barry Moore (R, HD-AL-2)
- Michael Rulli (R, HD-006)
- Don Bacon (R, HD-NE-2)
- Shomari Figures (D, HD-002)
- Chuck Edwards (R, HD-NC-11)
Latest actions
- : Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- : Introduced in House
Subjects: Finance and Financial Sector
Common questions
- What is HB1628?
- HB1628 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act.
- What does HB1628 do?
- In its own words: To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 761st Tank Battalion, collectively, in recognition of their crucial role in the success of Allied forces in Europe and for the example they set as the first Black soldiers to go to war as part of an American armored unit.
- What is the status of HB1628?
- In committee as of February 26, 2025. Latest action: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (February 26, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB1628?
- Gary Palmer (R, HD-AL-6), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1628?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1628
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.