Congress honors Sarah Keys Evans, civil rights pioneer who desegregated interstate buses
H.R. 1377 — Sarah Keys Evans Congressional Gold Medal Act · Filed by Donald Davis (D-NC) · 6 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 14, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill authorizes Congress to award a gold medal to Sarah Keys Evans, a living civil rights pioneer whose 1952 refusal to give up her bus seat—three years before Rosa Parks—led to a landmark Interstate Commerce Commission ruling that outlawed segregation on interstate buses. The bill also permits the Treasury to strike and sell bronze duplicate medals to cover production costs.
Why we flagged it
This is a straightforward Congressional Gold Medal bill honoring a deceased civil rights pioneer. It contains no regulatory, appropriations, or policy riders—only the authorization to strike and present a medal, with self-funding provisions for duplicates.
Who it affects
This is a commemorative honor for a civil rights hero whose legal victory directly advanced racial equality and democratic rights. The public benefit is symbolic and historical—recognizing a pioneering act of courage that strengthened civil rights law.