To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Marshall Walter Major Taylor in recognition of his significance to the nation as an athlete, trailblazer, role model, and equal rights advocate.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · June 12, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
This bill awards a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to Marshall Walter Major Taylor, a pioneering African American cyclist who lived from 1878 to 1932 and broke racial barriers in professional sports during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Taylor was the second Black athlete to win a world championship title, set multiple world speed records, became one of the wealthiest Black men of his era, and faced persistent racial discrimination throughout his career while maintaining remarkable dignity. The medal will be designed and struck by the Secretary of the Treasury and presented by the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate, with the original gold medal going to Taylor's great-granddaughter, Karen Donovan. The bill authorizes the Treasury Department to use funds from the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover the costs of creating the medal, and allows the sale of duplicate bronze medals with proceeds returned to that same fund. The legislation recognizes Taylor's significance as an athlete, trailblazer, role model, and equal rights advocate who used his platform to advocate for justice and equal opportunity for African Americans.
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