Sarah Keys Evans Congressional Gold Medal Act

# Sarah Keys Evans Congressional Gold Medal Act Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would award the Congressional Gold Medal to Sarah Keys Evans, one of the nation's highest civilian honors. Evans is recognized for her role in desegregating interstate bus travel during the 1950s. The Congressional Gold Medal is a prestigious award given by Congress to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to American society. **Who It Affects and Why It Matters:** The bill honors Sarah Keys Evans for her civil rights activism during the segregation era. In 1955, Evans, a Black U.S.

Army nurse, was arrested in North Carolina for refusing to give up her seat on an interstate bus—an act of civil disobedience that preceded Rosa Parks' famous similar action by several months. Her case led to a federal ruling against segregation on interstate buses. The award recognizes her historical significance in the American civil rights movement. **Current Status:** The bill (HR 1377) was introduced by Representative Donald G. Davis (D-North Carolina) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.