HR1427: HR1427 Congress; pass Thiokol Memorial Gold Medical Act; urge

This resolution does not change Georgia law. It is a formal statement from the Georgia House of Representatives asking the United States Congress to pass a federal bill called the Thiokol Memorial Gold Medal Act. That federal bill, introduced by U.S. Representative Buddy Carter, would award the Congressional Gold Medal to 30 workers who died at the Thiokol Chemical Plant in Woodbine, Georgia: 29 killed in a February 3, 1971 explosion during trip flare manufacturing for the Vietnam War, and one more killed in a 1973 mortar shell explosion at the same plant. The resolution recounts the history of the disaster, including the multi-agency rescue effort and the plant's role in early integrated, equal-pay employment. It directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to the President, Vice President, the Speaker of the U.S. House, and Georgia's congressional delegation.

• Formally urges the U.S. Congress to enact the Thiokol Memorial Gold Medal Act, which would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 30 workers killed.
• Directs the Clerk of the Georgia House of Representatives to send copies of the resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States.
• Directs copies to be sent to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and every member of Georgia's congressional delegation.
• Does not itself create any medal, funding, or legal requirement, since it only expresses the Georgia House's support for a federal bill.

The resolution most directly affects the families and memory of the 30 Thiokol plant workers who died in 1971 and 1973, and it is addressed to federal officials including the President, Vice President, the U.S. House Speaker, and Georgia's congressional delegation.

Because this is a resolution rather than a law, it has no direct legal effect in Georgia. Its practical significance is symbolic and political: it puts the Georgia House on record supporting federal recognition of the Thiokol plant workers and may add pressure for Congress to act on the pending federal bill.

• The whereas clauses describe the February 3, 1971 explosion at Building M-132 of the Woodbine Thiokol Chemical Plant that killed 29 employees, and a 1973 mortar shell explosion that killed a 30th worker.
• The resolution notes the disaster ranks among the ten worst industrial accidents in U.S. history and describes the multi-agency emergency response involving military, police, and medical personnel from 16 cities.
• The resolving clause states that the House urges Congress to enact the Thiokol Memorial Gold Medal Act, which would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 30 workers.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to top federal officials and Georgia's congressional delegation.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Steven Sainz (R, HD-180)Primary sponsor
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Inga Willis (D, HD-055)
• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)

• Congressional Gold Medal
• Thiokol plant explosion
• Woodbine Georgia history
• workplace safety
• Vietnam War era manufacturing