U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
SB567: First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act
Status: Passed one chamber, June 11, 2026
A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
What the bill says
An act To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
From the engrossed text, June 11, 2026:
AN ACT To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act . SECTION 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) During the winter at Valley Forge, from 1777-1778, the Continental Army had difficulty recruiting the necessary quotas of men set by the Congress. (2) At the same time, the State of Rhode Island was ordered to supply two battalions while a British force occupied the City of Newport. (3) In January 1778, at the urging of Brigadier General James Varnum, General George Washington wrote to Governor Nicholas Cooke of the State of Rhode Island requesting assistance recruiting men for the Continental Line. (4) On February 14, 1778, the Rhode Island General Assembly voted to allow the enlistment of every able-bodied negro, mulatto, or Indian man slave . (5) In addition, the Rhode Island General Assembly provided that any enlisted slave upon his passing muster before Colonel Christopher Greene, be immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress, and be absolutely free as though he had never been encumbered with any kind of servitude or slavery . (6) As a result, between February 1778 and June …
Sponsors
- Whitehouse, Sheldon (D) · primary sponsor
- Graham, Lindsey (R)
- Jack Reed (D, SD-RI)
- Cassidy, Bill (R)
- Blumenthal, Richard (D)
- Hirono, Mazie (D)
- Hoeven, John (R)
- Kaine, Timothy (D)
- King, Angus (I)
- Klobuchar, Amy (D)
- Shaheen, Jeanne (D)
- Bennet, Michael (D)
Latest actions
- : Held at the desk.
- : Received in the House.
- : Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- : Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2770)
- : Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2770)
- : Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2770)
- : Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- : Introduced in Senate
- : Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Subjects: Congressional tributes, Conflicts and wars, Rhode Island, Libraries and archives, Military history, Racial and ethnic relations, U.S. history, Armed Forces and National Security
Common questions
- What is SB567?
- SB567 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act.
- What does SB567 do?
- In its own words: An act To award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Rhode Island Regiment, in recognition of their dedicated service during the Revolutionary War.
- What is the status of SB567?
- Passed one chamber as of June 11, 2026. Latest action: Held at the desk. (June 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB567?
- Whitehouse, Sheldon (D), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB567?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/567
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.