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H.R. 2315House115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed House

To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to each of Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith in recognition of their contributions to the Nation.

Sponsored by Stephen F. LynchRep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)
Introduced May 3, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:29 PM UTC

This bill authorizes Congress to award a single posthumous Congressional Gold Medal to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, the four Americans killed in the 2012 Benghazi attack. The medal would honor their service and sacrifice and would be displayed at the CIA Museum, with possible additional displays elsewhere.

Key Provisions

  • The Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate must arrange for the award of one gold medal, jointly honoring the four individuals.
  • The Treasury Secretary is directed to design and strike the medal with appropriate symbols and inscriptions.
  • After the award, the medal will be placed in the Central Intelligence Agency Museum for display and research, and Congress encourages it to be shown at other relevant locations.
  • The Treasury Secretary may also produce and sell bronze duplicate medals to cover the costs of making the original gold medal.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

December 13, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 3, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Financial Services Committee

May 3, 2017

HouseFloor

Mr. Barr asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

December 12, 2018 • 4:22 PM

HouseCommittee

Committee on Financial Services discharged.

Financial Services Committee

December 12, 2018

HouseFloor

Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H10155-10156)

December 12, 2018 • 4:23 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H10155)

December 12, 2018 • 4:23 PM

HouseFloor

On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H10155)

December 12, 2018 • 4:23 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

December 12, 2018 • 4:23 PM

HouseFloor

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

December 12, 2018 • 4:23 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

December 13, 2018

Amendments

1 amendment

Offered to this bill

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 2315 on the floor

2 Republicans
Brian J. Mast
Rep. Brian J. MastR-FL-18 · Sep 12, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because it has been 6 years since the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi and ask that we reflect on the four patriotic Americans who lost their lives: Petty…

Record
Andy Barr
Rep. Andy BarrR-KY-6 · Dec 12, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Financial Services be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 2315) to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to…

Record

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued December 13, 2018

IIB

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 2315

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 13, 2018

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

AN ACT

To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of their contributions to the Nation.

1.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings:

(1)

On September 11, 2012, the United States consulate, and its personnel in Benghazi, Libya, were attacked by militants.

(2)

Four Americans were killed in the attack, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods.

(3)

Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were former Navy SEALs who served as security personnel in Libya. As the attack unfolded, they bravely attempted to defend American property and protect United States diplomatic personnel. In so doing, they selflessly sacrificed their own lives.

(4)

Glen Doherty was a Navy SEAL for 12 years and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He attained the rank of Petty Officer First Class and earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. After leaving the Navy, Glen Doherty worked with the Department of State to protect American diplomats.

(5)

Tyrone Woods served for 20 years as a Navy SEAL including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq he led multiple raids and reconnaissance missions and earned the Bronze Star. After retiring from the Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, Tyrone Woods worked with the Department of State to protect American diplomats.

(6)

J. Christopher Stevens served for 21 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. He was serving as U.S. Ambassador to Libya and previously served twice in the country, as both Special Representative to the Libyan Transitional National Council and as the Deputy Chief of Mission. Earlier in his life, he also served as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Morocco.

(7)

Sean Smith served for 6 years in the U.S. Air Force. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. After leaving the Air Force, Sean Smith served for 10 years in the State Department on various assignments, which took him to places such as Baghdad, Brussels, Pretoria, and The Hague.

(8)

As their careers attest, all four men served their country honorably.

2.

Congressional Gold Medal

(a)

Award Authorized

The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the posthumous award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design collectively in commemoration of Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of their contributions to the Nation.

(b)

Design and Striking

For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary) shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.

(c)

Central Intelligence Agency Museum

(1)

In general

Following the award of the gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the Central Intelligence Agency Museum, where it will be displayed as appropriate and made for research.

(2)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Central Intelligence Agency Museum should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith.

3.

Duplicate medals

Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 2, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.

4.

National medals

Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

Passed the House of Representatives December 12, 2018.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk.