Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act

119th Congress Introduced by Don Bacon and 5 co-sponsors

The bill authorizes awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the Artemis II crew to formally recognize their contributions to space exploration.

Introduced in House

Summary of HR 9417 (119th Congress) – Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to recognize and honor the crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission by awarding them Congressional Gold Medals. The underlying intent is to officially acknowledge the astronauts’ contributions to space exploration and national achievements in space science and exploration.

Key provisions and changes

Authorization of Congressional Gold Medals: The act directs the United States Congress to award Congressional Gold Medals to the Artemis II crew. This is a formal, symbolic recognition by Congress.

Dedication and design: The bill typically directs the design, wording, and presentation process for the medals, consistent with prior Congressional Gold Medal acts. This includes identifying the members of the Artemis II crew to receive the medals and specifying the commemorative purpose.

Administration and funding: As with standard Congressional Gold Medal acts, provisions outline the administrative process for the issuance and presentation, including potential ceremonies. The bill would authorize and appropriate (through the usual legislative channels) the necessary ceremonial actions; however, it does not usually create new ongoing funding programs beyond the medal itself and related ceremonial costs.

Compliance with existing rules: The bill operates within the framework of existing statutes governing Congressional Gold Medals, ensuring alignment with constitutional and procedural requirements.

Who/what would be affected

Artemis II crew members: The primary recipients of the Congressional Gold Medals.

Congress and related legislative processes: The act requires Congressional action to approve, design, and award the medals, contributing to ceremonial recognition of space exploration achievements.

Public and institutions involved in the ceremony: Organizations and venues hosting the presentation and related commemorative activities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and committee referral: Introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services (as of the action history in 2026-06-24). This committee typically reviews ceremonial measures and related administrative aspects.

Sponsorship: The bill has multiple co-sponsors, indicating bipartisan support across several members:

Mike Lawler
Glenn Ivey
Gabe Evans
Brian Fitzpatrick
George Whitesides
Don Bacon

Next steps: If reported out of committee, the bill would proceed to full House consideration, then potentially to the Senate and, if passed there, to the President for signature. Timeline depends on legislative priorities and scheduling.

Additional context

The Artemis II mission aims to advance human spaceflight and NASA’s Artemis program objectives, including crewed lunar exploration. This bill’s impact is primarily ceremonial, recognizing the crew’s contributions to U.S. space leadership and inspiring public interest in space exploration.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to prior Congressional Gold Medal acts (e.g., recipients or design processes) or provide a one-page briefing suitable for stakeholders.