[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  By Mr. HELMS (for himself, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Simpson, Mr. 
Warner, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. Hutchison, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Abraham, Mr. 
Specter, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Craig, Mr. Burns, Mr. Hatfield, 
Mr. Heflin, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Lott, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Kempthorne, Mr. 
Cochran, and Mr. Frist):
  S. 1520. A bill to award a congressional gold medal to Ruth and Billy 
Graham.


        THE BILLY AND RUTH GRAHAM CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL AWARD ACT

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I have a bill that Senator Faircloth and I 
are joining to offer. It is sponsored by many other Senators. It is at 
the desk.
  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I am not 
sure I understood what the Senator from North Carolina said. Was the 
Senator calling up a bill?
  Mr. HELMS. This is a bill to authorize a congressional gold medal to 
Billy Graham and Ruth Graham, his wife of 52 years.
  Mr. BUMPERS. Is the Senator calling a bill up for debate and 
consideration?
  Mr. HELMS. No, sir, it is to be appropriately referred.
  Mr. BUMPERS. I have no objection.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the Senator from North 
Carolina is recognized.
  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, before I begin, several Senators have 
already asked to be identified as cosponsors of this measure.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Utah, Mr. Hatch; the 
Senator from Wyoming, Mr. Simpson; the Senator from Virginia, Mr. 
Warner; the Senator from Alaska, Mr. Murkowski; the Senator from Texas, 
Mrs. Hutchison; the Senator from Kansas, Mrs. Kassebaum; and Senator 
Abraham; and Senator Specter of Pennsylvania be added as cosponsors, 
and I ask that the bill be held at the desk until the close of business 
today for Senators to add their names as cosponsors.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, Senator Faircloth and I are genuinely 
honored to offer this legislation to award a congressional gold medal 
to two wonderful North Carolinians, Dr. Billy Graham and his remarkable 
wife of 52 years, Ruth Graham. I have known them for years. Billy 
Graham was born not far from where I was born, and I have known him 
very, very well since the early 1950's, when I attended his very first 
crusade right here at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.
  When the bill is signed into law, Congress will be paying tribute to 
a deserving couple who have spent their lives exemplifying the miracle 
of America--faith in God, morality, charity, and family.
  Most Senators have met the Grahams; many are personal friends, as are 
Senator Faircloth and I. Billy and Ruth are marvelous servants of the 
Lord. Anybody even vaguely familiar with the Grahams' witness will 
agree that Billy's and Ruth's relationships with God, their love for 
each other and their family, and their deep-seated compassion for 
humanity are unsurpassed. This is the genuine spirituality that has led 
literally millions of Americans, and millions of others around the 
world, to grasp the meaning and hope of salvation.
  The incredible millions who have heard the message of salvation 
through Billy Graham's evangelistic campaigns are testimony to his 
devout magnetism. For the past half century, more than 100 million 
people in 180 countries have personally heard Billy Graham's thrilling 
messages in person when they attended his rallies. Others have 
worshipped with him by television. An estimated total of more than 2 
billion people have worshipped with Billy Graham on television. 
Countless others have sought spiritual help and counsel through his 
books, magazines, newspaper editorials, radio broadcasts, and the Billy 
Graham Training Center at Black Mountain, NC.

  The Grahams have responded to the physical needs of people around the 
world through a legacy inherited from Ruth Graham's father, the 
distinguished Dr. L. Nelson Bell, who was a missionary to China. Dr. 
Bell and his family served as medical missionaries to China for nearly 
25 years before returning to the Memorial Mission Hospital in 
Asheville, NC.
  Today, the Grahams continue Dr. Nelson Bell's legacy through the 
ministry of the Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Health Center where 
the children of western North Carolina and the surrounding area receive 
special medical care that was unavailable before the advent of the 
Graham Children's Health Center. Moreover, the Grahams, through their 
various ministries, have extended their love and their caring by 
extending their loving and helping hands to the victims of disasters, 
the medical needy, and the disadvantaged.
  Mr. President, it is fitting and proper, I think, for the U.S. 
Congress to honor Billy and Ruth Graham, who if anybody ever has, they 
have earned not only the respect of the Congress, they have earned the 
keys to the kingdom.
  Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, today Senator Helms and I will 
introduce legislation that will authorize the Congress to present a 
gold medal to Ruth and Billy Graham in honor of their contributions to 
mankind.
  The striking of the medal will have no cost to the taxpayer. Most 
importantly, all of this effort will benefit children in southern 
Appalachia and internationally.
  Ruth and Billy Graham stand as shining examples of faith, family, 
morality, and charity. These two great North Carolinians are truly 
servants of the Lord and His work has been further accomplished through 
their lifelong efforts.
  Dr. Graham's crusades have reached 100 million people in person and 
over 2 billion worldwide on television. He is America's most respected 
and admired evangelist. His newspaper columns and books reach legions 
of people in need of spiritual counseling. And, his loving marriage of 
52 years to Ruth Graham is a touching personal achievement.
  The Ruth and Billy Graham Children's Center, located at Memorial 
Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC, is testimony to the difference they 
have made in lives of others. The center's goal is to improve the 
health and well-being of children and to become a new resource for 
ending the pain and suffering of children.
  Mr. President, I ask the Senate to quickly act on this honor for Dr. 
Graham and his wife. The prayers of many deserving children could be 
answered by this touching tribute to Ruth and Billy Graham.
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