[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10794-S10795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BUMPERS (for himself, Ms. Moseley-Braun, and Mr. 
        Hutchinson):
  S. 1283. A bill to award Congressional gold medals to Jean Brown 
Trickey, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Melba Patillo Beals, Terrence Roberts, 
Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed Wair, Ernest Green, Elizabeth 
Eckford, and Jefferson Thomas, commonly referred collectively as the 
``Little Rock Nine'' on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the 
integration of the Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas; to the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.


                 congresSIONAL GOld MeDaLs LeGIslaTIon

  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill on 
behalf of Senator Carol Moseley-Braun and myself authorizing the award 
of the Congressional Gold Medal to the extraordinary group of Americans 
known as the Little Rock Nine. We speak often of heroes in this body. 
Sometimes we worry that there are no heroes in our country today, no 
one for our children to look up to, no one to inspire us to be our best 
selves. But a couple of weeks ago, we had a vivid reminder that there 
are still heroes among us. The Little Rock Nine returned to Little Rock 
Central High School to stride through the doors again. This time those 
doors were held open by the Governor of Arkansas and the President of 
the United States.

  Jean Brown Trickey, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Melba Patillo Beals, 
Terrence Roberts, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed Wair, Ernest 
Green, Elizabeth Eckford, and Jefferson Thomas. Their names are not so 
familiar to the American public, but they ought to be.
  On a fall day in 1957, these nine Americans were teenagers, children 
really, and they marched up the steps of Little Rock Central High 
School, young black teenagers through a huge crowd--actually a mob--of 
angry white people who despised them just for being there and presuming 
to attend a public school in their own home town. They marched up the 
steps with a cool courage that remains awesome today, no matter how 
many times we see the grainy newsreels.
  In 1957, Little Rock was not a very big city, but for a few days, it 
became the center of the world. Arkansas was not the most staunchly 
segregationist State in the South, but politics, history and fear 
conspired to make it the

[[Page S10795]]

crucible for the authority of Brown v. Board of Education. And through 
that storm of controversy marched these nine young people, frightened 
but dignified, barely comprehending what was happening but sensing that 
they were helping to move aside a profound obstacle.
  Now, even the people who jeered at them will admit that they were 
impressed and moved by the courage of those nine kids. The images of 
those days in Little Rock, and the extraordinary lives these nine sons 
and daughters of Arkansas have led are proud symbols of the progress we 
have made in America and a solemn reminder of the progress we have yet 
to make.
  Any ordinary teenager is sensitive to the tiniest insult, the most 
innocent slight. It is hard to imagine what these nine felt as they 
were cursed and spat upon, peppered with every slur and threat the 
crowd could muster. They were opposed by the Governor, by most every 
local leader, by their peers and by a fully armed unit of the National 
Guard. They were able to enter the school when President Eisenhower 
ordered in units of the airborne division to escort them and enforce 
the order of the Supreme Court. But it was not the power of the 
soldiers or the authority of the law that won the day. It was the grace 
and courage of those nine young people.
  Their grace and courage prevailed that day and has inspired us for 40 
years. They deserve our thanks and admiration. They deserve a medal. We 
should present those nine heroes of Little Rock with the Congressional 
Gold Medal as a permanent remembrance of their unforgettable moment of 
courage. I hope all of my colleagues will cosponsor this bill and see 
that it quickly becomes law.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1283

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

     SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

       The Congress hereby finds the following:
       (1) Jean Brown Trickey, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Melba 
     Patillo Beals, Terrence Roberts, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma 
     Mothershed Wair, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, and 
     Jefferson Thomas, hereafter in this section referred to as 
     the ``Little Rock Nine'', voluntarily subjected themselves to 
     the bitter stinging pains of racial bigotry.
       (2) The Little Rock Nine are civil rights pioneers whose 
     selfless acts considerably advanced the civil rights debate 
     in this country.
       (3) The Little Rock Nine risked their lives to integrate 
     Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and 
     subsequently the Nation.
       (4) The Little Rock Nine sacrificed their innocence to 
     protect the American principle that we are all ``one nation, 
     under God, indivisible''.
       (5) The Little Rock Nine have indelibly left their mark on 
     the history of this Nation.
       (6) the Little Rock Nine have continued to work towards 
     equality for all Americans.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized 
     to present, on behalf of Congress, to Jean Brown Trickey, 
     Carlotta Walls LaNier, Malba Patillo Beals, Terrence Roberts, 
     Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed Wair, Ernest Green, 
     Elizabeth Eckford, and Jefferson Thomas, commonly referred to 
     the ``Little Rock Nine'', gold medals of appropriate design, 
     in recognition of the selfless heroism such individuals 
     exhibited and the pain they suffered in the cause of civil 
     rights by integrating Central High School in Little Rock, 
     Arkansas.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For purposed 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 for each 
     recipient.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriation.--Effective October 1, 
     1997, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
     may be necessary, to carry out this section.

     SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       (a) Striking and Sale.--The Secretary of the Treasury may 
     strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medals 
     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.
       (b) Reimbursement of Appropriation.--The appropriation used 
     to carry out section 2 shall be reimbursed out of the 
     proceeds of sales under subsection (a).

     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.
                                 ______