Congress honors integrated Revolutionary War regiment long erased from history
S. 567 — First Rhode Island Regiment Congressional Gold Medal Act · Filed by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) · 67 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 13, 2025 · Passed chamber
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill authorizes Congress to award a single gold medal to the First Rhode Island Regiment, a Revolutionary War unit that was among the first in American history to recruit and integrate soldiers of African, Indigenous, and European descent. The medal will be displayed at the Rhode Island State Library, and the U.S. Mint may strike and sell bronze duplicates to cover costs.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative function is to authorize a single Congressional Gold Medal for a historical military unit and to establish the mechanics for striking and selling bronze duplicates. It is a straightforward commemorative measure with no policy, regulatory, or appropriations content.
What the text implies
- The bill's placement in the Senate Banking Committee (rather than a more typical commemorative committee) appears procedural and reflects no hidden policy intent.
- The detailed roster of named soldiers in the findings section serves a legitimate historical and archival purpose, ensuring the record preserves the identities of individuals whose contributions were historically marginalized.
Who it affects
This is a commemorative measure honoring a historically significant military unit whose service advanced racial integration in the armed forces. It carries no direct cost to citizens (the U.S.