One Hundred Tenth Congress of the United States of America
2d Session
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and eight
S. 254
AN ACT
To award posthumously a Congressional gold medal to Constantino Brumidi.
Findings
Congress finds the following:
On July 26, 1805, Constantino Brumidi was born in Rome, Italy of an Italian mother and a Greek father who inspired him with a love of liberty.
While Constantino Brumidi’s Greek ancestry stirred his passion for liberty and citizenship, his Italian heritage provided the art styles of the Renaissance and the Baroque which influenced the artwork of the United States Capitol.
Constantino Brumidi became a citizen of the United States as soon as he was able, embracing its history, values, and ideals.
Beginning in 1855, Constantino Brumidi
designed and decorated 1 House and 5 Senate committee rooms in the Capitol, as
well as the Senate Reception Room, the Office of the Vice President, and, most
notably, the President’s Room, which represents Brumidi’s supreme effort
to make beautiful the Capitol
of the United States.
In 1865, Constantino Brumidi completed in
just 11 months his masterpiece, The Apotheosis of Washington
, in
the eye of the Capitol dome.
In 1871, Constantino Brumidi created the first tribute to an African American in the Capitol when he placed the figure of Crispus Attucks at the center of his fresco of the Boston Massacre.
In 1878, Constantino Brumidi, at the age of 72 and in poor health, began work on the Rotunda frieze, which chronicles the history of America.
On February 19, 1880, Constantino Brumidi died at the age of 74, four and a half months after slipping and nearly falling from a scaffold while working on the Rotunda frieze.
Constantino Brumidi, proud of his artistic
accomplishments and devoted to his adopted country, said, My one
ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live long enough to make beautiful
the Capitol of the one country on earth in which there is
liberty.
.
Constantino Brumidi’s life and work exemplify the lives of millions of immigrants who came to pursue the American dream.
Congressional gold medal
Presentation Authorized
In general
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the posthumous presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to Constantino Brumidi, in recognition of his contributions to the Nation.
Display of medal in capitol visitor center
The Architect of the Capitol shall arrange for the gold medal presented under this subsection to be displayed in the Capitol Visitor Center, as part of an exhibit honoring Constantino Brumidi.
Design and Striking
For purposes of the presentation referred
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as
the Secretary
) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems,
devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.
Duplicate medals
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
Status of medals
National Medals
The medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
Numismatic Items
For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
Authority to use fund amounts; proceeds of sale
Authority To Use Fund Amounts
There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck pursuant to this Act.
Proceeds of Sale
Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate