[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2081 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2081
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Red Cross
Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) program, also
known as the ``Donut Dollies'', who served honorably during the Vietnam
conflict.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 11, 2025
Ms. Sherrill (for herself, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Connolly,
Mr. Panetta, Mr. Carson, Ms. Salinas, and Mr. Harris of Maryland)
introduced the following bill; which was 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Red Cross
Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas (SRAO) program, also
known as the ``Donut Dollies'', who served honorably during the Vietnam
conflict.
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 ``Donut Dollies Congressional Gold Medal
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Vietnam War, (1954-1975), a conflict that pitted
the communist Government of North Vietnam and its allies in
South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the Government
of South Vietnam, involved thousands of U.S. servicemembers and
volunteers over its course. U.S. military advisers, present in
small numbers throughout the 1950s, were introduced on a large
scale beginning in 1961, and active combat units were
introduced in 1965. As early as February 1962, the number of
American military forces in Vietnam warranted the assignment of
American Red Cross field directors.
(2) Women were not subject to the Vietnam-era draft, but
thousands volunteered. The first American Red Cross Field
Directors were sent to South Vietnam in February 1962. The last
Red Cross staff members to serve in-country departed in March
1973. Official records indicate that a total of 1,120 women
served with the Red Cross in Vietnam during that 11-year
period. Of that number, 627 were young women who were part of
the organization's Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas
(SRAO) program.
(3) Based on Red Cross estimates, around 280,500 servicemen
took part in these recreation programs and the women,
affectionately known as ``Donut Dollies'', traveled 27,000
miles by jeep, truck, airplane, and helicopter every month. Red
Cross officials estimate that, during the seven years the
program was in operation, the women logged over 2,125,000
miles. The first SRAO unit opened at Danang in September 1965.
Others quickly followed at Bien Hoa, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh Air
Force and Army bases, Dian, Quang Tri, Phu Bai, Lai Khe, Dong
Tam, Qui Nhon, Xuan Loc, and more. In all, there were 28 SRAO
unit locations throughout the country.
(4) Military commanders expressed high praise for the Red
Cross volunteers, calling the services of the organization
``indispensable'' and ``prime factors'' in their efforts to
maintain the high morale of their men and to look after their
welfare. Writing to Red Cross national headquarters in 1968,
General William Westmoreland, then commander of the U.S. forces
in Southeast Asia, stated, ``Serving our men on the
battlefields here in Vietnam, the American Red Cross is a
hotline to the folks back home, an oasis in the heat of battle,
and a comfort during hospitalization.''.
(5) These Red Cross volunteers shared with military
personnel the hardship and privation of life in a war zone and
were subject to the dangers of war. Many staff were injured.
Five American Red Cross workers died in-country. Three of those
were women, Hanna E. Crews, Virginia E. Kirsch, and Lucinda J.
Richter, all of whom were members of the SRAO program.
(6) The Donut Dollies volunteered to be sent to the
frontlines to support servicemembers directly engaged with the
enemy during the Vietnam conflict. The extraordinary efforts of
these volunteers throughout the extent of America's involvement
in the Vietnam conflict is deserving of official recognition.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorization.--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 the
Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration to
members of the Red Cross Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas
(SRAO) program, also known as the ``Donut Dollies'', who served
honorably during the Vietnam conflict.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the
Secretary.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal
under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the
Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for
display as appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received
under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere,
particularly at other appropriate locations associated with the
``Donut Dollies''.
(d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the
United States Mint should expedite production of the gold medal under
this Act, so that the service and sacrifice of ``Donut Dollies''
volunteers can be recognized and honored in a timely manner.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to 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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