country filled out applications. (17) While the Army did eventually integrate African-American nurses in 1941, it did so unwillingly and placed a quota on the number of African-American nurses that they would accept, capping the number allowed to join at 56. (18) Many of them had hardship tours and were sent to segregated camps to take care of African-American soldiers and would rotate and allow White nurses reprieve in taking care of German prisoners of war. As the war progressed, the number of Black nurses allowed to enlist remained low, although the quota was officially lifted in July 1944. (19) The extraordinary efforts of these women are deserving of belated official recognition. (20) The United States is eternally grateful to the nurses of the Army and Navy Nurse Corps for their bravery and dedication to their patients through World War II, which saved lives and made significant contributions to the defeat of the Axis powers. 3. Congressional gold medal (a) Award authorized The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in honor of World War II Army and Navy Nurse Corps members, in recognition of the critical military service and devotion to duty of those nurses. (b) Design and striking For purposes of the award described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as 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 Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for display as appropriate and made available for research. (2) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly