[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9974-S9975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST (for himself and Mr. Alexander):
  S. 1465. A bill to authorize the President to award a gold medal on 
behalf of Congress honoring Wilma G. Rudolph, in recognition of her 
enduring contributions to humanity and women's athletics in the United 
States and the world; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today Senator Alexander and I introduce 
legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Clarksville, 
Tennessee native Wilma Rudolph for her contributions to women's 
athletics and racial

[[Page S9975]]

equality in the United States and the world.
  I take a moment to say a few words about this remarkable woman.
  Wilma was the 20th of 22 children in her packed family. After 
overcoming scarlet fever, double pneumonia and polio, Wilma went onto 
win three Olympic gold medals in track and field. She became an 
international star and a hero to the people of Tennessee. Wilma showed 
the world that hard work and determination could overcome nearly 
anything.
  Wilma was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 
1973 and received the Humanitarian of the Year Award of the Special 
Olympics in 1985. She was the first woman to ever receive the National 
Collegiate Athletic Association's Silver Anniversary Award in 1987. And 
in 1989 earned the Jackie Robinson Image Award of the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Wilma remains the 
only woman ever to have received the National Sports Award, which she 
was granted in 1993.
  Wilma Rudolph is an inspiration to all Tennesseans and is eminently 
deserving of the Congressional Gold Medal.
  I urge my colleagues to confer this well earned honor.
  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. 1465

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) Wilma G. Rudolph of Clarksville, Tennessee, the 20th of 
     22 children, overcame a series of childhood diseases, 
     including scarlet fever, double pneumonia, and polio, to 
     become an athletic pioneer and champion in the State of 
     Tennessee, the United States, and the world, first as an 
     outstanding basketball player and track athlete in Tennessee, 
     then as a 3-time gold medal winner in the 1960 Olympics in 
     Rome, and finally as a pioneer for racial equality, goodwill, 
     and justice;
       (2) Wilma G. Rudolph's winning of 3 gold medals in the 1960 
     Olympics served as an inspiration to athletes of all sports, 
     all races, and both genders;
       (3) Wilma G. Rudolph's ability to inspire endured after her 
     performance in the 1960 Olympics, as demonstrated by--
       (A) her receipt in 1987 of the National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association's Silver Anniversary Award, the first time a 
     woman ever received the award;
       (B) her receipt of the 1989 Jackie Robinson Image Award of 
     the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
     People (NAACP);
       (C) her induction into the National Track and Field Hall of 
     Fame in 1973;
       (D) her receipt of the 1985 Humanitarian of the Year Award 
     of the Special Olympics; and
       (E) her receipt in 1993 of the National Sports Award, the 
     only time a woman has received the award;
       (4) Wilma G. Rudolph, a graduate of Tennessee State 
     University, a successful businessperson, a mother, an 
     athlete, a coach, and a teacher, who passed away on November 
     12, 1994, will forever remain an inspiration to all able-
     bodied and physically-challenged individuals in overcoming 
     odds;
       (5) Wilma G. Rudolph blazed a trail that helped all people 
     understand the contributions of women to the world of 
     athletics;
       (6) the legacy of Wilma G. Rudolph continues to serve as a 
     particular inspiration to women; and
       (7) Wilma G. Rudolph's life truly embodied the American 
     values of hard work, determination, and love of humanity.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized 
     to award to the family of Wilma G. Rudolph, on behalf of 
     Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design honoring Wilma 
     G. Rudolph (posthumously) in recognition of her outstanding 
     and enduring contributions to humanity and to women's 
     athletics, in the United States and the world.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the award 
     referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury 
     (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. STATUS AS 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. FUNDING.

       (a) Authority to Use Fund Amounts.--There is 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.
                                 ______