June 29, 2026
Mr. Babin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Bonnie Eloise Rush Milam in recognition of her distinguished service to the United States Armed Forces through the Melody Maids and her lifelong contributions to patriotism, music education, and the leadership development of young women in the United States.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Bonnie Eloise Rush Milam Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings
The Congress finds the following:
(1)
Bonnie Eloise Rush Milam, born in 1908 in Anahuac, Texas, was a music educator who founded the Melody Maids, an all-girls singing group, in Beaumont, Texas, in 1942 during World War II.
(2)
The Melody Maids began with a performance at a war bond rally and quickly expanded to support United States military morale, performing at bases, hospitals, and veterans' events across the United States and overseas, including four tours to Europe and the United Kingdom, seven tours to Nordic countries such as Greenland and Iceland, seven tours to Hawaii, three tours to Asia, five tours to Mexico, and tours to four locations in the Caribbean.
(3)
Under the leadership of Mrs. Milam, the Melody Maids provided entertainment and comfort to service members during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, earning recognition as the most requested performers under the Department of Defense Entertainment Branch after 1956.
(4)
Mrs. Milam instilled in approximately 1,500 young women who served as Melody Maids the values of morals, manners, and music
, emphasizing professionalism, discipline, and service through a code of conduct known as the Melody Maid Bible
.
(5)
In addition to military support, Mrs. Milam composed Song Saga of Spindletop in 1951 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Lucas Gusher, celebrating Texas oil heritage, which was performed nationally.
(6)
The contributions of Mrs. Milam were recognized with the American Legion Distinguished Service Award (1961), designation as the first female Honorary Texas Ranger, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor (1981).
(7)
The legacy of Mrs. Milam and the Melody Maids continues through the Melody Maid Foundation scholarship at Lamar University and preserved memorabilia at the Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont, Texas.
(8)
Mrs. Milam passed away on October 3, 2008, at the age of 100.
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 the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration of Bonnie Eloise Rush Milam, in recognition of her distinguished service to the United States Armed Forces through the Melody Maids and her lifelong contributions to patriotism, music education, and the leadership development of young women in the United States.
(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.
(c) Disposition of medal
Following the presentation of the gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont, Texas, where the medal shall be available for display as appropriate and made available for research.
Sec. 4. Duplicate medals
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 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.
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.