James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 1933 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1933 To award posthumously a congressional gold medal to James Earl Jones, an American icon, in recognition of a remarkable life in reshaping perceptions, dismantling racial barriers, and advocating for equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds in film and theatre. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 6, 2025 Mr. Lawler (for himself and Mr. Torres of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To award posthumously a congressional gold medal to James Earl Jones, an American icon, in recognition of a remarkable life in reshaping perceptions, dismantling racial barriers, and advocating for equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds in film and theatre. 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 ``James Earl Jones Congressional Gold Medal Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) James Earl Jones, born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla Township, Mississippi, was raised largely by his grandparents after his father left. Following the family's move to Michigan, he developed a serious stutter that led to him rarely speaking. (2) James Earl Jones started writing poetry while still in school and used this to break free of his stutter. Inspired by the grapefruit that the Federal Government gave to Mississippians during the wartime shortage, Jones penned a poem titled ``Ode to Grapefruit''. Jones continued to write, play, and compete and as a result, he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Michigan and won a public speaking competition. (3) Jones enlisted i