[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1686-S1687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD A GOLD MEDAL TO FRANCIS ALBERT ``FRANK'' SINATRA

  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Banking 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 305, and, 
further, the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 305) to authorize the President to award a gold 
     medal on the behalf of Congress to Francis Albert ``Frank'' 
     Sinatra in recognition of his outstanding and enduring 
     contributions through his entertainment career and 
     humanitarian activities, and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, today I rise to once more address a bill 
I introduced earlier this month. A bill to award a congressional gold 
medal to not only recognize Frank Sinatra, as one of the most notable 
entertainers of our time, but also to recognize his unsurpassed 
humanitarian efforts.
  I am speaking of Frank Sinatra's generous and unostentatious 
philanthropic accomplishments. This one man has raised hundreds of 
millions of dollars to benefit the poor, the hungry, the chronically 
and terminally ill, and a variety of charities for children all over 
the world.
  The lives of countless ailing youngsters have been touched by the 
benevolence of Frank Sinatra through his funding of entire hospital 
units dedicated to caring for children. Specifically, the Frank Sinatra 
Child Care Unit at St. Jude's Children's Research Center in Memphis, 
TN, and the Sinatra Family Children's Unit for the Chronically Ill at 
Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle, WA.
  Let me mention two examples of Frank Sinatra's generosity. This great 
man set out on a world tour to benefit children's hospitals, 
orphanages, and schools. He personally and completely financed 30 
concerts in 10 weeks stopping in the international capitals of the 
world. All in all he raised more than $1 million throughout this 
effort. And that was in 1962.
  More recently, starting in 1979, Frank Sinatra coordinated a 
historical series of five annual concerts showcasing and sharing the 
stage with renowned entertainers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Victor Borge, 
Diana Ross, and opera singers Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and 
Montserrat Caballe.
  These five concerts generated $11 million, I repeat, $11 million for 
the Frank Sinatra Fund of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. 
These donations have helped ensure that patients of the cancer center 
who cannot afford treatment are not turned away.
  Frank Sinatra's generosity has channeled money for strengthening 
educational opportunities and programs for inner-city youths as well as 
university coeds. Examples of his work stretch from Hoboken, NJ, to the 
Hebrew University in Jerusalem and many points in between.
  Not only has Frank Sinatra done more than a lion's share to assist 
his fellow man, he has done so through anonymity. He is not one to 
trumpet his goodwill. And that, Mr. President is a class act.
  I am proud to say that support for this bill from my colleagues has 
been overwhelming. I thank all of my friends on both sides of the aisle 
who have looked to the goodness in a fellow man and made the easy 
decision to recognize that goodness.
  Mr. President, that is the right thing to do. That is what we should 
do more of. We should rally 'round and show our thanks for the goodwill 
of individuals who willingly share the fruits of their success with 
those less fortunate.
  On another note, Mr. President, I feel very strongly that the pubic 
sale of

[[Page S1687]]

bronze duplicates of the original Frank Sinatra gold medal has a very 
real potential to raise money for the Treasury.
  Mr. COATS. I ask unanimous consent the bill be deemed read a third 
time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that 
any statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 305) was deemed read a third time and passed, as 
follows:

                                 S. 305

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) Francis Albert ``Frank'' Sinatra has touched the lives 
     of millions around the world and across generations through 
     his outstanding career in entertainment, which has spanned 
     more than 5 decades;
       (2) Frank Sinatra has significantly contributed to the 
     entertainment industry through his endeavors as a producer, 
     director, actor, and gifted vocalist;
       (3) the humanitarian contributions of Frank Sinatra have 
     been recognized in the forms of a Lifetime Achievement Award 
     from the NAACP, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the 
     Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Presidential 
     Medal of Freedom Award, and the George Foster Peabody Award; 
     and
       (4) the entertainment accomplishments of Frank Sinatra, 
     including the release of more than 50 albums and appearances 
     in more than 60 films, have been recognized in the forms of 
     the Screen Actors Guild Award, the Kennedy Center Honors, 8 
     Grammy Awards from the National Academy of Recording Arts and 
     Science, 2 Academy Awards from the Academy of Motion Picture 
     Arts and Sciences, and an Emmy Award.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized 
     to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of 
     appropriate design to Francis Albert ``Frank'' Sinatra in 
     recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions 
     through his entertainment career and numerous humanitarian 
     activities.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose 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. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

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

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

       The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals 
     for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby 
     authorized to be charged against the Numismatic Public 
     Enterprise Fund an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for 
     the cost of the medal authorized by this Act.
       (b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sales of 
     duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in 
     the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.

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