Public Law 113–11 facts for kids
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| Full title | To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, in recognition of the 50th commemoration of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church where the 4 little Black girls lost their lives, which served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. |
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| Introduced in | 113th United States Congress |
| Introduced on | January 23, 2013 |
| Sponsored by | Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D, AL-7) |
| Number of co-sponsors | 8 |
Quick facts for kids Effects and codifications |
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| Act(s) affected | Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965 |
| U.S.C. section(s) affected | , , |
| Agencies affected | United States Congress, United States Department of the Treasury, |
| Authorizations of appropriations | an unlimited amount |
| Legislative history | |
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This article is about a special law that was passed in the United States in 2013. This law, known as Public Law 113-11, was created to honor four young girls: Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley. They tragically lost their lives 50 years earlier in a terrible bombing.
The law's main goal was to give these girls a Congressional Gold Medal. This medal is one of the highest awards given to civilians in the United States. It recognizes their sacrifice and how their story helped push forward the Civil Rights Movement.
Contents
Honoring Four Young Heroes
This special law was called H.R. 360 when it was first introduced. Its full name explained its purpose: "to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley to commemorate the lives they lost 50 years ago in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where these 4 little Black girls' ultimate sacrifice served as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement."
The word "posthumously" means that the award was given after they had passed away. The law made sure that one special medal would be created. This medal was then sent to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. It is now displayed there for everyone to see. The government also made bronze copies of the medal that people can buy.
What is a Congressional Gold Medal?
The Congressional Gold Medal is a very important award. It is given by the United States Congress to people or groups who have done something amazing. These actions must have had a major impact on American history and culture. It is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive.
Why Was This Medal Awarded?
The four girls — Addie Mae Collins (age 14), Denise McNair (age 11), Carole Robertson (age 14), and Cynthia Wesley (age 14) — were killed on September 15, 1963. They were at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, when a bomb exploded. This terrible event was part of a time when people were fighting for equal rights for African Americans.
The bombing was a shocking moment during the Civil Rights Movement. It showed the extreme violence that some people used to stop the movement. But instead of stopping it, this tragedy made many more people support the fight for civil rights. It helped lead to important laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These laws helped end unfair treatment and ensure voting rights for all.
How a Bill Becomes a Law
This special medal could only be awarded if a new law was passed. Here is how H.R. 360 became a law:
The House of Representatives
The bill, H.R. 360, was first introduced in the United States House of Representatives. This happened on January 23, 2013. It was introduced by Representative Terri Sewell, who is a congresswoman from Alabama. The bill was then sent to a group of lawmakers called the United States House Committee on Financial Services. This committee looked at the bill closely.
After being reviewed, the House of Representatives voted on the bill. On April 2, 2013, the House voted to pass H.R. 360. The vote was almost completely in favor, with 420 votes for the bill and 0 against it.
The Senate
Once the House passed the bill, it was sent to the United States Senate. The Senate is the other part of the U.S. Congress. The Senate received H.R. 360 on April 25, 2013.
On May 9, 2013, the Senate also passed the bill. They passed it by "unanimous consent." This means that all the senators present agreed to pass the bill without any objections or a formal vote.
The President's Signature
After both the House and the Senate passed the bill, it was sent to the President. The bill was given to President Barack Obama on May 15, 2013. President Obama then signed the bill into law on May 24, 2013. Once the President signs a bill, it officially becomes a law. This law made it possible to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the four girls.
