[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 101 (Thursday, July 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S9246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KERRY:
  S. 1386. A bill to amend titles 10 and 14, United States Code, to 
provide for the use of gold in the metal content of the Medal of Honor; 
to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, today I introduce a bill that would help 
give our most highly honored veterans a medal more worthy of their 
bravery and sacrifice by requiring the use of 90 percent gold in the 
Congressional Medal of Honor instead of gold-plated brass, as is 
currently used.
  The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award our country 
bestows for valor in action against an enemy force. These are ordinary 
soldiers who performed extraordinary deeds in battle, often giving what 
President Lincoln termed ``the final full measure'' in doing so.
  This is the medal won by Marine Corps pilot, Captain Joe Foss, who in 
less than 30 days of combat over Guadalcanal, shot down 23 enemy 
planes, three in one engagement, and is credited with turning-back an 
entire Japanese bombing mission before it could drop a single bomb.
  This is the medal won by Army Private Edward Moskala who set aside 
his personal safety one night on the Island of Okinawa to assault two 
machine gun nests, provide cover for his unit as it withdrew, and 
rescue fallen comrades amidst a hail of enemy fire before finally 
suffering a mortal wound.
  This is the medal won by Pharmacist's Mate First Class Francis 
Pierce, Jr., who on the island of Iwo Jima exposed himself repeatedly 
to enemy fire to save the lives of Marines he accompanied, traversing 
open terrain to rescue comrades and assaulting enemy positions that 
endangered his wounded comrades.
  This is the medal won by Marine Corps Second Lieutenant Robert Dale 
Reem, who on the night of November 6, 1950, after leading three 
separate assaults on an enemy position in the vicinity of Chinhung-ni, 
Korea, threw himself on top of an enemy grenade that landed amidst his 
men.
  This is the medal won by Air Force Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks who 
made repeated strafing runs over an advancing enemy element near Dalat, 
Republic of Vietnam on February 24, 1967. Captain Wilbanks' aircraft, 
it should be noted, was neither armed nor armored. He made the assaults 
by sticking his rifle out the window and flying low over the enemy. His 
action saved the lives of friendly forces, but it cost him his own.
  The feats that earned these medals are the stuff of legend. But they 
are not legends. They are actual deeds that inspire humility and 
gratitude in all of us. In bestowing the Congressional Medal of Honor, 
the president enrolls the recipient in a sacred club of heroes.
  Regrettably, the medal itself, though gold in color, is actually 
brass plated with gold. It costs only about $30 to craft the award 
itself. I will be the first to tell you that the value of the 
Congressional Medal of Honor is not in the metal content of the award, 
but in the deeds done to earn it. But if you compare the $30 we invest 
in this, our Nation's highest award for valor, with the $30,000 
Congressional medals presented to foreign dignitaries, famous singers, 
and other civilians, you will agree that we can do better.
  Put simply, this legislation will forge a medal more worthy of the 
esteem with which the nation holds those few who have earned the 
Congressional Medal of Honor through valor and heroism beyond compare.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objections, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1386

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

     SECTION 1. GOLD CONTENT FOR MEDAL OF HONOR.

       (a) Requirement for Gold Content.--Sections 3741, 6241, and 
     8741 of title 10, United States Code, and section 491 of 
     title 14, United States Code, are each amended by inserting 
     ``the metal content of which is 90 percent gold and 10 
     percent alloy and'' after ``appropriate design,''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to any award of the Medal of Honor 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______