[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4360 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4360
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Edward J. Dwight, Jr., the first
African American astronaut candidate in the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 16, 2024
Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Edward J. Dwight, Jr., the first
African American astronaut candidate in the United States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Edward J. Dwight, Jr. Congressional
Gold Medal Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Edward Joseph Dwight, Jr., was born on September 9,
1933, to Georgia Baker Dwight and Edward Dwight, Sr., in Kansas
City, Kansas. Ed Senior had been a second baseman and center
fielder for the Kansas City Monarchs and played on other all-
Black teams from 1924 to 1937. Georgia was a devoted mother who
enrolled her son in a Head Start type program at the age of 2
and made sure to expose her children to as much culture as she
could.
(2) Edward Joseph Dwight, Jr., grew up with a passion for
art and airplanes.
(3) Edward became the first African American male to
graduate from Bishop Ward Catholic High School in 1951. He then
earned an associate degree in engineering in 1953 from Kansas
City Junior College. That same year he left to join the Air
Force and began flight training.
(4) After completing flight training, he served as a
military pilot and obtained a degree in aeronautical
engineering from Arizona State University. During his career as
an officer in the Air Force, Edward served at bases in Texas,
Missouri, and Arizona, developing technical manuals and
training fellow pilots on various instruments, as he
accumulated flight hours.
(5) Edward recalled, ``I was the only Black officer pilot
just about every base I was stationed'' and that even at 5'4'',
he ``got award after award''. While in the Air Force, Edward
earned his Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from
Arizona State University in 1957.
(6) Edward flew some of the most advanced aircraft of the
era and ultimately accumulated over 9,000 hours of flight time,
2,000 in high-performance jets. His engineering background and
extensive training opened the door for him to enter the test
pilot school where the most successful trainees become
astronauts.
(7) Edward was chosen by President John F. Kennedy to enter
training as an experimental test pilot. The Kennedy
administration knew that a Black astronaut would be an
inspiring display of opportunity for African Americans across
the country.
(8) On November 4, 1961, Edward received a letter inviting
him to join the astronaut training program. He followed the
advice of his mother and accepted the invitation to take the
first steps toward improving diversity and talent in the United
States space program by becoming the first African American
astronaut candidate in the United States.
(9) Edward went to the Aerospace Research Pilot School at
Edwards Air Force Base in California to begin training.
(10) This was a time of uncertainty where the color of a
person's skin mattered more than his or her skill.
(11) The astronaut candidacy of Edwards became cover news
on Black magazines such as Jet, Ebony, and Sepia.
(12) At Edwards Air Force Base, however, Edward experienced
prejudice and scorn, as he recounted in his autobiography
``Soaring on the Wings of a Dream: The Untold Story of
America's First Black Astronaut Candidate''.
(13) Edward completed the experimental test pilot course
and entered aerospace research pilot training in preparation
for astronaut duties. He successfully completed the course and
continued to perform duties as a fully qualified aerospace
research pilot.
(14) On October 18, 1963, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (referred to in this section as ``NASA'')
announced 14 astronauts for Group 3, but Edward did not make
the list.
(15) While in training, Edward faced obstacles due to his
race, which derailed his chance to be the first African
American in space. His fight for equality was one of many
trailblazing battles happening during the Civil Rights Era.
(16) The assassination of President Kennedy, the main
sponsor in the White House of Edward and the space journey, led
to his voluntary separation from the Air Force.
(17) In 1966, Edward resigned from the Air Force as a
captain and moved to Denver, Colorado.
(18) After the Kennedy assassination, pressure on NASA to
fly a Black astronaut waned, and the first African American
would not fly in space until Guion Bluford flew with the crew
of NASA's eighth space flight on the Space Shuttle orbiter
Challenger in 1983.
(19) After successful careers in the Air Force, and as an
IBM systems engineer, restauranteur, aviation consultant, real
estate, and construction entrepreneur, Edward dedicated the
last 43 years solely to his artistic endeavors.
(20) In 1974, George Brown, the first African American
lieutenant governor of Colorado and a member of the Tuskegee
Airmen in World War II, chose Edward to create a bronze bust of
him to display in the Colorado State Capitol.
(21) Being a neophyte to bronze sculpting, and at the age
of 42, Edward enrolled at the University of Denver in the
Masters of Fine Arts program. While at the University of
Denver, he became proficient in metal casting and managed the
foundry at the school while also teaching other students. He
received his Master of Fine Arts in 1977.
(22) In 1975, while at the University of Denver, Edward
received a commission from the Colorado Centennial Commission
to create a series of bronzes depicting the contribution of
Blacks to the American Frontier West. The series exhibited for
several years throughout the United States, gaining widespread
acceptance and critical acclaim.
(23) In 1979, the National Park Service encouraged Edward
to create a bronze series portraying the history and historical
roots of jazz. The series was created and entitled ``Jazz: An
American Art Form'', which consisted of over 70 bronzes
depicting the evolution of jazz from its African origins to the
fusion of contemporary music.
(24) Since his art career began in 1976, Edward has become
one of most prolific and insightful sculptors in the United
States. As of the date of enactment of this Act, Edward has
completed more than 115 large-scale commissioned sculpture
installations. His pieces are collected by museums,
institutions and art enthusiasts around the world, including
the Smithsonian. Ed Dwight Studios, Inc., in Denver, is now one
of the largest privately-owned production facilities in the
western United States.
(25) Edward is the recipient of numerable living legends
awards from around the country for his achievements in space
activities and contributions in art and Black history.
(26) On August 5, 2020, in recognition of his
accomplishments as a scientist, test pilot, and sculptor, the
Space Force inducted him as an honorary member. A permanent
display is installed at the Pentagon in honor of these
achievements.
(27) In a ceremony at the Pentagon, General Jay Raymond,
Chief of Space Operations of the Space Force, presented Edward
with the Commander's Public Service Award and inducted him as
an honorary member of the Space Force, for his contributions to
the United States, space, and history during times of overt
racism in the field of science. Astronaut Victor Glover honored
Edward by carrying this award with him to the International
Space Station during his Crew-1 mission. Despite all that he
had to overcome, Edward was an example of excellence, embarking
on a nationwide speaking tour encouraging young people to study
science, engineering, and math.
(28) In 2021, the Minor Planet Center, an organization
affiliated with the International Astronomical Union, named an
asteroid after Edward. NASA has honored him by sending his
sculpture ``Pioneer Woman'' to space on Exploration Flight
Test-1 in 2014.
(29) On November 3, 2022, Denver International Airport
opened an exhibit titled ``Soaring on the Wings of a Dream,''
the title of Edward's book. The exhibit is on the life of
Edward, beginning with childhood and ending with adulthood. It
will be on display for 5 months.
(30) The National Geographic documentary, ``The Space
Race'', weaves together the stories of Black astronauts seeking
to break the bonds of social injustice to reach for the stars,
including Edward, Guion Bluford, Charles Bolden, Mae C.
Jemison, Victor Glover, among many others, including Leland
Melvin, one of the producers of the film.
(31) On May 19, 2024, Edward, sponsored by Space for
Humanity, will finally travel to space on board Blue Origin New
Shepard rocket. At 90 years old, Edward will be the oldest
person in space and will train with his crewmates for 2 days
before liftoff at the Blue Origin Launch Site One in western
Texas.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress,
of a single gold medal of appropriate design to Edward J. Dwight, the
first African-American astronaut candidate in the United States, in
recognition of--
(1) his historic service to the United States;
(2) the example of excellence during times of struggle and
overt racism; and
(3) his contributions in art and Black history.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation
described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to
in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the
Secretary. The design shall bear an image of, and an inscription of the
name of, Edward J. Dwight, Jr.
(c) Disposition of Medal.--Following the presentation described in
subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to Edward J. Dwight, Jr.,
or, if unavailable, to Curtis Christopher Dwight.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck under this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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