WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Gabe Evans (CO-08) joined Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-02) and retired NASA astronaut and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) to introduce the Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Actto honor the four crewmembers of the historic Artemis II mission around the Moon. Additional cosponsors of the bill include Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representatives George Whitesides (D-CA-27), and Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04).

On April 1st, 2026, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen embarked on a historic 9-day mission as the first crewed Artemis flight, taking a key step toward a return to the Moon and future missions to Mars. The four astronauts flew farther from Earth than any humans in history.

"The Artemis II mission represents the very best of America: courage, innovation, and a willingness to push beyond the horizon in pursuit of something greater than ourselves. As an Army veteran, I have tremendous respect for the dedication, discipline, and sacrifice required to undertake a mission of this magnitude. Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen carried forward a proud legacy of exploration while inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, service members, and explorers. Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting tribute to their historic achievement and reaffirms America's leadership in space exploration." - Rep. Evans

"Artemis II marked a bold new chapter in American space exploration, with a groundbreaking crew that set records for the farthest humans have ever traveled from our planet. Their incredible accomplishments represent the very best of us and brought the country together in a collective moment of awe. I'm proud to pay tribute to their journey with the Artemis II Congressional Gold Medal Act which bestows the crew with Congress' highest civilian honor." - Rep. Whitesides.

"Artemis represents the next great chapter in American leadership in space exploration, and communities like ours that support the nation's spaceflight missions are proud to help send astronauts farther than humanity has ever traveled before. The Congressional Gold Medal Act is a fitting tribute to the courage, skill, and dedication of the Artemis II crew, whose service will inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers across our nation. I am proud to honor these outstanding astronauts as an original co-sponsor of this bill." - Rep. Ivey

"Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy carried human space exploration farther than it has ever gone before. I've flown on four missions to space and I know how hard that crew and the teams on the ground worked. They made something incredibly complex and difficult look easy. They reminded Americans what we're capable of when we work together. They inspired the next generation of scientists, explorers, and engineers. For pushing the boundaries of human achievement, the Artemis II crew deserves this honor." - Sen. Kelly

"The Artemis II mission was a historic achievement for American space dominance. This is a fitting honor for the crew and all those who aided in the mission's success. This includes the General Dynamics team in Lincoln who manufactured several components forthe spacecraft, including the oxygen tanks." - Sen. Ricketts

"Earlier this year, Artemis II made history and showed the world that our greatest days of discovery are still ahead. As we celebrate the mission's success, we honor the Artemis II crew - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen - alongside the NASA workforce whose contributions helped set new records in space exploration. America's leadership in space would not be possible without the innovation, courage and dedication of the men and women who made this mission possible." - Sen. Moran

"The Artemis II mission took humanity further away from Earth than we have ever been before. This historic effort was built on contributions from NASA centers across the country - including the dedicated workforce at Goddard Space Flight Center - to send four brave astronauts around the moon. Artemis II will be remembered for the teamwork, dedication, and spirit that Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, and Commander Reid Wiseman from our great state of Maryland shared with the world. This resolution marks their contributions and the contributions of all of those who made the Artemis II mission a success and an inspiration to us all." -Sen. Van Hollen

Background:

The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian honors awarded by Congress. Since the American Revolution, Congress has used the medal to recognize individuals and groups whose achievements have had a lasting impact on American history and national life.

The last astronauts to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal were the Apollo 11 Crew in 2009. No other NASA mission crew has received the honor, reserving it for missions of extraordinary historic significance.

Click here to read the full text of the bill.