[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2655 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2655
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Captain James Arthur Lovell,
Jr., (USN-Ret), in recognition of his service to our Nation and most
notably, his leadership, bravery, and general significance to the
advancement of United States space exploration.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2023
Mr. Schneider introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Captain James Arthur Lovell,
Jr., (USN-Ret), in recognition of his service to our Nation and most
notably, his leadership, bravery, and general significance to the
advancement of United States space exploration.
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 ``Captain James A. Lovell, Jr.,
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) In 1952, James A. Lovell, Jr., graduated from the Naval
Academy and served with distinction in the U.S. Navy as a
fighter pilot, later making important contributions as a test
pilot.
(2) As a crew member for the Gemini 7 mission and Commander
for the Gemini 12 mission, Lovell played a critical role in
these missions which were critical steps towards making the
later Apollo lunar missions possible.
(3) On December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 launched from Kennedy
Space Center Launch Complex 39A, destined for lunar orbit.
Lovell, William Anders, and Frank Borman became the first
humans to reach the Moon's orbit; Apollo 8 successfully
completed ten orbits around the Moon and safely returned to
Earth on December 27, 1968.
(4) On April 11, 1970, Apollo 13, commanded by Lovell, with
Jack Swigert as command module pilot and Fred Haise as lunar
module pilot, launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex
39A with the intention to be the third mission in history to
land humans on the Moon.
(5) Two days into the mission, an explosion occurred,
depleting the command module's air tanks, and leaving the ship
with disruptions in water, electricity, fuel, and light
supplies, with support and guidance from ground personnel,
Lovell, Haise, and Swigert had to modify the ship's life
support systems and change Apollo 13's course to circle around
the Moon before heading back to Earth.
(6) Lovell handwrote the orientation calculations
transferring them from the command module to the lunar module
guidance system allowing the ship to stay on the correct
trajectory.
(7) The three astronauts aboard Apollo 13 survived on
rations of water in freezing temperatures for four days in the
lunar module while the ship traveled back towards Earth.
(8) On April 17, 1970, in large thanks to Lovell's
leadership and NASA's ingenuity, Apollo 13 reentered Earth's
atmosphere and safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after
a treacherous and uncertain journey back to Earth.
(9) The bravery, skill, and courage of the Apollo 13
astronauts, under the extraordinary leadership of Captain
Lovell united the American people and reinvigorated interest in
the Nation's space program.
(10) President Nixon awarded Lovell, Haise, and Swigert
with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their heroic work.
(11) Lovell went on to have a successful business career,
becoming the CEO of Bay-Houston Towing Company, President of
Fisk Telephone Systems, Executive Vice President of Centel
Corporation in Chicago, and starting a restaurant with his
family in Lake Forest, Illinois.
(12) Throughout his life, Lovell was a strong and effective
advocate for science, the study of space, and the power of
space exploration.
(13) Lovell continues to be an example of strength and
wisdom in his community and throughout the country.
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 in commemoration of
Captain James Arthur Lovell, Jr., in recognition of his service to our
Nation and most notably, his leadership, bravery, and general
significance to the advancement of United States space exploration.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the 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 at a price sufficient to cover the
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medal struck pursuant to this Act is a
national medal for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 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.--The amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited
into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
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