[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2635 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2635

 To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Hank Aaron, in recognition of 
     his contributions to the national pastime of baseball and his 
  perseverance in overcoming discrimination and adversity to become a 
                     role model for all Americans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 9, 2013

 Mr. Kind (for himself and Mr. Bonner) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Hank Aaron, in recognition of 
     his contributions to the national pastime of baseball and his 
  perseverance in overcoming discrimination and adversity to become a 
                     role model for all Americans.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hank Aaron Congressional Gold Medal 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) Henry Louis ``Hank'' Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama 
        on February 5, 1934, to Herbert and Estella Aaron.
            (2) One of baseball's greatest players, Hank Aaron broke 
        many of the sport's most distinguished records including the 
        career home run record, which he held for over 33 years.
            (3) Hank Aaron began his baseball career while still in 
        high school, playing semi-professionally for the Mobile Black 
        Bears. He continued on to the Indianapolis Clowns whom he 
        helped lead to victory in the Negro League World Series.
            (4) Hank Aaron rocketed through the Minor Leagues, being 
        named the Northern League Rookie of the Year playing for the 
        Eau Claire Bears in 1952 and MVP of the South Atlantic League 
        playing for the Jacksonville Tars in 1953.
            (5) In 1954 Hank Aaron started his 23-year career in Major 
        League Baseball playing for the Milwaukee Braves. He played 
        with the Braves for 21 years, following them to Atlanta when 
        they moved in 1966. In his final two years in the Major League, 
        he played for the Milwaukee Brewers.
            (6) To this day, Hank Aaron holds several Major League 
        records, including most career RBIs (2,297), most career extra 
        base hits (1,477), most career total bases (6,856), and most 
        consecutive seasons with 150 or more hits (17).
            (7) On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career 
        home run record. At the end of his career, Hank Aaron had 755 
        home runs, a record that was not beaten until 2007 by Barry 
        Bonds.
            (8) Hank Aaron made the All Star Team for 21 consecutive 
        years, from 1955 to 1975.
            (9) Hank Aaron has received numerous awards for his prowess 
        in Major League baseball, including 3 Golden Gloves, 2 National 
        League batting titles, 4 National League home run champion 
        titles, and the Major League Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. He was 
        also named National League MVP in 1957.
            (10) Hank Aaron has been recognized for his success by many 
        people and institutions. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall 
        of Fame in 1982, received a Presidential Citizens Medal from 
        President Bill Clinton, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom 
        from President George W. Bush. He was awarded the Spingarn 
        Medal from the NAACP ('76) for outstanding achievement by an 
        African American.
            (11) A great sportsman who constantly pushed the limits of 
        the game, as well as the cultural limits of the time, Hank 
        Aaron is a true American role model and will inspire Americans 
        for generations to come.

SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make 
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the 
Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to Hank Aaron, in 
recognition of his contributions to the national pastime of baseball 
and his perseverance in overcoming discrimination and adversity to 
become a role model for all Americans.
    (b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred 
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this 
Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with 
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the 
Secretary.

SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

    The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold 
medal struck pursuant to section 3 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. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

    (a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this Act are 
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States 
Code.
    (b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, 
United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be 
considered to be numismatic items.

SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

    (a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be 
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund, such 
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck 
pursuant to this Act.
    (b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate 
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the 
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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