September 19, 2025
Mr. Lawler (for himself, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. LaLota, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Ryan, and Ms. Tenney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Welles Remy Crowther, in recognition of his bravery, heroism, and sacrifice in the face of one of the gravest tragedies in American history.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Welles Remy Crowther Congressional Gold Medal Act
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Welles Remy Crowther grew up in Upper Nyack, New York, where he served his community as a volunteer firefighter.
(2)
After graduating from Boston College, he returned to New York to begin working as an equities trader at the World Trade Center.
(3)
The events of September 11, 2001, have forever changed our Nation.
(4)
In New York City, in the skies over Pennsylvania, at the Pentagon and in surrounding areas everyday Americans responded to the unprecedented tragedy around them with extraordinary acts of heroism and sacrifice.
(5)
When Flight 175 hit the World Trade Center’s South Tower on the morning of September 11, Welles acted with remarkable calm and compassion that was starkly remembered by all those he encountered that morning.
(6)
Welles found other survivors on the 78th floor Sky Lobby and helped lead them to safety, carrying an injured woman down the stairs on his back. Donning his red bandanna to help with the smoke, he repeatedly returned to the Sky Lobby to help rescue others.
(7)
When Welles arrived at ground level, he stayed to join firefighters in attempting to fight fires, administer first aid, and return to save others, until his eventual death when the tower collapsed.
(8)
Through survivors accounts of a Man in the Red Bandanna
, Welles mother, Alison, began to piece together what had happened and identified him with those he had aided.
(9)
The red bandanna has become a symbol of his heroic efforts and an inspiration to so many who have been touched by Welles story.
(10)
In the face of tragedy, Welles Remy Crowther demonstrated exceptional bravery, leadership, heroism, and sacrifice.
(11)
As the Man in the Red Bandanna
, he has been enshrined in the history and hearts of America as an embodiment of the virtues we all are called to emulate as individuals and as a Nation.
Sec. 3. Congressional gold medal
(a) Presentation authorized
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 in commemoration to Welles Remy Crowther, in recognition of his bravery, heroism, and sacrifice in the face of one of the gravest tragedies in American history.
(b) 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. The design shall bear an image of, and inscription of the name of, Welles Remy Crowther.
(c) Disposition of medal
Following the presentation described in subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the mother of Welles Remy Crowther, Alison Crowther.
Sec. 4. Duplicate medals
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
Sec. 5. Status of medals
(a) National medals
The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Numismatic items
For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
Sec. 6. Authority to use fund amounts; proceeds of sale
(a) 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.
(b) Proceeds of sale
Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under this Act shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.