[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10936-S10937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO GERALD R. AND BETTY FORD

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                       D'AMATO AMENDMENT NO. 3647

  Mr. McCAIN (for Mr. D'Amato) proposed an amendment to bill (H.R. 
3506) to award a congressional gold medal to Gerald R. and Betty Ford; 
as follows:

       At the end of the bill, add the following new sections:

     SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS FOR THE ``LITTLE ROCK 
                   NINE''.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
       (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; and
       (6) the Little Rock Nine have continued to work toward 
     equality for all Americans.
       (b) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized 
     to present, on behalf of Congress, 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 to 
     the ``Little Rock Nine'', gold medals of appropriate design, 
     in recognition of the selfless heroism that such individuals 
     exhibited and the pain they suffered in the cause of civil 
     rights by integrating Central High School in Little Rock, 
     Arkansas.
       (c) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation 
     referred to in subsection (b) 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.

[[Page S10937]]

       (d) Authorization of Appropriation.--Effective October 1, 
     1997, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
     may be necessary to carry out this section.
       (e) Duplicate Medals.--
       (1) Striking and sale.--The Secretary of the Treasury may 
     strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medals 
     struck pursuant to this section 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.
       (3) Rimbursement of appropriation.--The appropriation used 
     to carry out this section shall be reimbursed out of the 
     proceeds of sales under paragraph (1).

     SEC. 5. COMMEMORATIVE COINS.

       (a) In General.--Section 101(7)(D) of the United States 
     Commemorative Coin Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-239, 110 Stat. 
     4009) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(D) Minting and issuance of coins.--
       The Secretary--
       ``(i) may not mint coins under this paragraph after July 1, 
     1998; and
       ``(ii) may not issue coins minted under this paragraph 
     after December 31, 1998.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section 
     shall be construed to have the same effective date as section 
     101 of the United States Commemorative Coin Act of 1996.

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