This bill authorizes Congress to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Edward J. Dwight, Jr., the first African American astronaut candidate selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Though Dwight successfully completed aerospace research pilot training at Edwards Air Force Base, he was not selected for NASA's astronaut Group 3 in 1963, and the Kennedy assassination and subsequent loss of White House support derailed his spaceflight opportunity. After leaving the Air Force in 1966, Dwight became an accomplished sculptor and artist, completing over 115 large-scale commissioned installations and earning numerous honors, including a 2020 Space Force honorary membership. The gold medal recognizes Dwight's historic service, his example of excellence during times of racism and struggle, and his contributions to art and Black history. The Secretary of the Treasury will design and strike the medal, with costs paid from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, and the government may sell duplicate bronze copies to recover expenses.
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