Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Congressional Gold Medal Act

(a) Award authorized. The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the collective award, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to the individuals who fought for or with the United States to defend Bataan, Corregidor, and other places in the Pacific theater, and became prisoners of war, in recognition of their personal sacrifice and service during World War II.

(b) Design and striking. For purposes of the award under subsection (a), the Secretary shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.

(c) Smithsonian institution

(1) In general. Following the award of the gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be displayed as appropriate and made available for research.

(2) Sense of congress. It is the sense of Congress that the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display at other locations, particularly at locations that are associated with—

(A) the defensive battles of World War II in the Pacific theater from December 8, 1941, to August 15, 1945;

(B) the prisoners of war of Imperial Japan; and

(C) the defense of the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Midway Island, and Java.