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S 4909

A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to each of the crew members of the Artemis II Mission in recognition of their contributions in advancing the human exploration of space to new heights, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Tammy Duckworth and 6 co-sponsors

The bill would award Congressional Gold Medals to every Artemis II crew member in recognition of their role in advancing human space exploration.

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4909

Overview

S. 4909 is a bill introduced in the 119th United States Congress that proposes awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to each crew member of the Artemis II Mission. The measure recognizes the crew’s contributions to advancing human space exploration. The bill has multiple co-sponsors and was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on June 24, 2026.

Purpose and Intent

  • To honor the Artemis II crew for their role in pushing human spaceflight beyond prior boundaries and advancing exploration “to new heights.”
  • To formalize Congressional recognition in the form of a Congressional Gold Medal, a high civilian honor.

Key Provisions

  • Award: The bill directs the issuance of Congressional Gold Medals to the Artemis II crew members. The exact number of medals corresponds to the number of individuals assigned to the Artemis II crew.
  • Personalization: The medals would presumably be presented to each crew member, consistent with existing Congressional Gold Medal traditions (e.g., inscriptions or accompanying proclamations as applicable).
  • Ceremonial Use: The bill would authorize the relevant federal processes to confer the medals, following standard procedures for Congressional Gold Medal awards.
  • Compliance and Administration: The bill would require appropriate agencies, likely the U.S. Mint or the Architect of the Capitol, to oversee the production, authentication, and presentation of the medals in accordance with congressional practice.

Affected Parties

  • Artemis II Crew Members: The primary beneficiaries, receiving Congressional Gold Medals.
  • U.S. Government Entities: Congressional offices, the U.S. Mint, and relevant congressional and executive agencies responsible for minting, authenticating, and awarding the medals.
  • Public/Stakeholders: Citizens and the space community, who gain formal recognition for contributions to space exploration.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral: The bill was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on June 24, 2026.
  • Status: As of the referral, no further committee actions or floor consideration are listed in the provided text.
  • Next Steps: If advanced, the bill would follow standard legislative paths for honors bills, typically involving committee review, potential amendments, and floor consideration in the Senate, and, if passed, possible reconciliation with any House actions before final passage.

Notable Context

  • The Artemis II Mission is part of NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon and extend human spaceflight capabilities. This bill aligns with a tradition of recognizing spaceflight achievement through Congressional Gold Medals.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to include more historical context on prior Congressional Gold Medal awards or compare similar honors for other space missions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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