Last Updated: 4 April 2023

H.R. 1372 was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives and the 118th Congress on 3 March 2023 by Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-7). That same day Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS-1), Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9), and Representative Steve Cohen became cosponsors. Reportedly, Representative Clifford Scott Franklin (R-FL-15) has also pledged to support the bill. The title of the legislation is as follows: To award a Congressional Gold Medal to all United States nationals who voluntarily joined the Canadian and British armed forces and their supporting entities during World War II, in recognition of their dedicated service. The body text of H.R. 1372 is the same as that comprising H.R. 1709, its predecessor from the 117th Congress, which was introduced by former Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH). A cursory study of the history is contained in the Commemorative Air Force Digital Dispatch – American Eagles| 2022 | Volume 49 | Number 3. Comprehensive textual documentation may be accessed at the webpage H.R. 1709 (117th Congress): Supporting and Documenting the Text.

As of 4 April 2023, the list of endorsing organisations (that have endorsed H.R. 1372 or the previous H.R. 980 of the 117th Congress) include the following: Aircrew Remembered, American Fighter Aces Association, American War Memorials Overseas, Bomber Command Museum of Canada, Commemorative Air Force, Flight Journal magazine/Air Age Media), Florida Aviation Historical Society, Hickory Aviation Museum, Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base, Jews in Aviation, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, National WWII Museum, No. 1 British Flying Training Museum, Two Blue Aces, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Upon the passage of this legislation the heretofore unrecognized American men and women who valiantly took voluntary action, with the tacit approval and support of the President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt, his administration, and the national media, to defend Democracy by actively fighting the scourge of Nazism and fascism while our nation was ill-prepared psychologically, militarily, and industrially to enter the conflict, will be finally acknowledged by the Federal Government. A significant number of these volunteers gave their lives during service, and, we the benefactors, have until now overlooked the sacrifices. The surviving veterans and their families, which notably include the relatives and descendants of those Americans who were killed-in-action in the midst of service, have longed for such an official action over the past eight decades. It is only right and proper for this Congress to rectify the oversight. Readers are therefore asked to contact their Member of Congress and encourage him or her to support H.R. 1372.