[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1335 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1335

 To award a congressional gold medal to honor Jack Roosevelt Robinson.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 1997

   Mr. Schumer (for himself, Mr. Owens, Mr. Towns, Ms. Molinari, Mr. 
  Nadler, Mrs. Maloney of New York, and Ms. Velazquez) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Banking and 
                           Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To award a congressional gold medal to honor Jack Roosevelt Robinson.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first 
        African-American to play Major League Baseball, paving the way 
        for others of all races to compete on equal footing in baseball 
        and every other sport.
            (2) Jackie Robinson's pioneering achievement advanced the 
        cause of racial equality in every area, predating the 
        integration of America's armed forces, schools, political 
        institutions, and public facilities.
            (3) Jackie Robinson responded to threats, hostility, and 
        bigotry with dignity, strength, and courage, allowing his 
        performance on the field to eloquently silence his critics.
            (4) In his 10-season career with the Brooklyn Dodgers, 
        Jackie Robinson proved to be one of the greatest baseball 
        players of all time; was inducted into the Baseball Hall of 
        Fame on the first ballot in 1962; won awards as Rookie of the 
        Year in 1947 and Most Valuable Player in 1949; played for six 
        pennant-winning teams and one team that won the World Series; 
        compiled a lifetime batting average of .311; led the National 
        League in stolen bases twice; and stole home plate 19 times.
            (5) After his retirement from baseball, Jackie Robinson 
        became a businessman, philanthropist, and activist, in 
        particular promoting the causes of equal opportunity, civil 
        rights, and youth development, and establishing the Jackie 
        Robinson Foundation.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized to 
present, on behalf of the Congress, to Rachel Robinson and other family 
of the late Jack Roosevelt Robinson, a gold medal of appropriate design 
in recognition of Jack Roosevelt Robinson's enduring contributions to 
racial equality, athletics, business, and charitable causes.
    (b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred 
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a gold 
medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined 
by the Secretary.
    (c) Gifts and Donations.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury may accept, 
        use, and disburse gifts or donations of property or money to 
        carry out this section.
            (2) Appropriation authorized.--Not more than $30,000 are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section.

SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

    The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell duplicates in 
bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 under such 
regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to 
cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of 
machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.

SEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS.

    The medals struck pursuant to this Act are--
            (1) national medals, for purposes of chapter 51 of title 
        31, United States Code; and
            (2) numismatic items, for purposes of section 5134 of such 
        title.
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