Legislation Search

S. 2784: Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025

This bill proposes to award a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Constance Baker Motley in recognition of her significant contributions and service to the United States. The main components of the bill are outlined below:

Short Title

The Act may be cited as the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025.

Findings

Congress acknowledges the following key points about Constance Baker Motley:

She was born in 1921 to parents from Nevis and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from New York University in 1943.
Motley earned her law degree from Columbia University in 1946 and became a staff attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where she worked alongside prominent civil rights lawyers.
She was the only female attorney on the legal team that won the historic case of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Motley argued ten significant civil rights cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning all but one, including a prominent case regarding the admission of James Meredith to the University of Mississippi.
She became the first African-American woman elected to the New York State Senate in 1964 and later served as the first African-American woman president of the Borough of Manhattan.
In 1966, she was appointed a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, becoming the first African-American woman to hold such a position.
Motley continued to serve as a judge after her elevation to Chief Judge in 1982, remaining a judicial leader until she assumed senior status in 1986.
She passed away on September 28, 2005.
Her 100th birthday was celebrated on September 14, 2021, highlighting her legacy.

Congressional Gold Medal

Presentation Authorized

The bill authorizes the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous presentation of a gold medal honoring Constance Baker Motley.

Design and Striking

The Secretary of the Treasury will strike a gold medal designed to include suitable emblems and inscriptions honoring Constance Baker Motley.

Presentation Details

The medal will be presented to her son, Joel Motley III, and her niece, Constance Royster.

Disposition of Medal

After the presentation, the gold medal will be given to Joel Motley III.

Duplicate Medals

The Secretary may also create and sell bronze duplicates of the gold medal to cover costs, ensuring affordability.

Status of Medals

The medals struck under this Act will be designated as national medals and classified as numismatic items.

Authority for Fund Usage

The bill allows for the necessary amounts to be charged against the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund to cover the costs associated with the medals. The proceeds from any bronze duplicate sales will be deposited back into this fund.