[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 7 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S454-S455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CLELAND (for himself, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Helms, and Mr. 
        Glenn):
  S. 1615. A bill to present a gold medal to Len ``Roy Rogers'' Slye 
and Octavia ``Dale Evans'' Smith; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs.


                  CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL LEGISLATION

   Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, today we are introducing 
legislation which would authorize presentation of a Congressional Gold 
Medal to Len ``Roy Rogers'' Slye and Octavia ``Dale Evans'' Smith. 
``Heroes are made every little while,'' Will Rogers once said, ``but 
only one in a million conduct themselves afterwards so that it makes us 
proud that we honored them at the time.'' The gold medal we propose 
would honor two American heroes for the wholesome entertainment they 
have given the world for six decades and for the shining example they 
have set as role models for America's youth. I am pleased to be joined 
by the distinguished cosponsors, Senators Coverdell, Helms, and Glenn.

  For generations of Americans, Roy Rogers has been the symbol of the 
Western hero--a man who combines

[[Page S455]]

courage with honesty and impeccable integrity--who always righted wrong 
through straight talk and square-dealing. When asked about the roles he 
played on-screen, Roy once answered that he did ``what I was supposed 
to do. I played myself. * * * When I talk about my image, there isn't 
anything that isn't really me. I always try to be the best that I can 
be.'' In all that we have seen or heard or read about Roy Rogers, on 
screen or off, the persona and the man are indeed one and the same--and 
in Roy Rogers we see what is best about America.
  Dale Evans counts among her highest honors the Cardinal Terrence Cook 
Humanities Award and the California Mother of the Year. Both are 
tributes to two of her greatest gifts--her generosity of spirit and her 
strong family values. Together she and Roy have raised nine children, 
and they have sixteen grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. And the 
fact that most of them live near Roy and Dale's ranch outside of 
Victorville, California, is a testament to their devotion and strong 
family ties. Dale is the author of 25 books. Her most famous, ``Angel 
Unaware'', chronicles the life and death of Dale and Roy's daughter, 
Robin, who died from complications of Down's syndrome. The book is 
about loss, but it is also about the capacity to love--a quality which 
both Dale and Roy have in abundant measure.
  Roy and Dale are an American institution--and their fans span the 
globe. Together they have achieved the pinnacle of success in the 
entertainment industry. Their movies were No. 1 at the box office. 
Their television series was the highest rated of its time. The episodes 
have been translated into every major language, and they can still be 
seen here in America and in markets abroad. Between the two of them 
they have set appearance records in every major arena in the world, 
including Madison Square Garden, the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Chicago 
Stadium, the Harringay Arena in London, and Toronto's Canadian National 
Exhibition. Roy once sold out Madison Square Garden 29 straight nights, 
and he still holds the record for the largest crowd ever to see an 
indoor rodeo.
  It has been said that we make a living by what we get, but we make a 
life by what we give. Both Roy and Dale's careers have been an 
unqualified success, as their world-wide appeal attests. But this tells 
only half the story. Their appeal--which reaches to all four corners of 
the globe--is also the result of the values, the ethics, and the 
uncompromising principles by which they have lived their lives. It is 
our hope that we honor their worthy contributions with the 
Congressional Gold Medal. Should we do so, we will have honored in 
their time true American heroes, and our choice--to use Will Rogers' 
yardstick--will be validated by the ages to come.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1615

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

     SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized 
     to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of 
     appropriate design to Len ``Roy Rogers'' Slye and Octavia 
     ``Dale Evans'' Smith in recognition of their accomplishments 
     as entertainers and humanitarians, which include--
       (1) careers in the entertainment industry that spanned 6 
     decades and covered such industries as music, film, 
     television, writing, sports, and radio;
       (2) acting in and producing more than 100 films, as well as 
     their popular 10-year television show ``The Roy Rogers 
     Show'', which is still seen in American and foreign markets;
       (3) setting appearance records in virtually every major 
     arena in the world, including Madison Square Garden in New 
     York City, the Houston Fat Stock Show, the Los Angeles 
     Coliseum, the Chicago Stadium, the Harringay Arena in London, 
     Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition, and many State fairs 
     and rodeos;
       (4) on the part of Len Slye, once selling out Madison 
     Square Garden 29 straight nights, holding the record for the 
     largest crowd to ever see an indoor rodeo, and twice 
     attracting more than 100,000 people to rodeos in the Los 
     Angeles Coliseum;
       (5) selfless service as role models through their strong 
     faith in Christianity as well as their devotion to their 9 
     children (5 by adoption and 4 by birth), 16 grandchildren, 
     and 30 great-grandchildren;
       (6) Octavia Smith's classic book ``Angel Unaware'', which 
     dealt with the death from complications associated with 
     Down's syndrome of Robin, the one child Len Slye and Octavia 
     Smith had together; and
       (7) creating the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in 
     Victorville, California, that vividly chronicles their lives 
     and the values and ethics that represent the basis of their 
     worldwide appeal.
       (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. 2. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of 
     the gold medal struck pursuant to section 1 under such 
     regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, and at a price 
     sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, 
     materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL MEDALS.

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

     SEC. 4. FUNDING AND PROCEEDS OF SALE.

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