[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8481-S8482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON:
  S. 2697. A bill to authorize the President to posthumously award a 
gold medal on behalf of the Congress to the

[[Page S8482]]

seven members of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia in recognition 
of their outstanding and enduring contributions to the Nation; to the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to 
honor seven individuals who last year made the ultimate sacrifice. The 
crew of flight STS-107 was tragically lost aboard the space shuttle 
Columbia on February 1, 2003. Debris from the vehicle was found in 
several cities and towns in my home State of Texas, where memorials 
will be raised to the mission's memory.
  Commander Rick Husband, Pilot William McCool, Payload Specialist 
Michael Anderson, Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, David Brown and 
Laurel Clark, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, Israel's first 
astronaut, admirably exemplified our commitment to human space 
exploration. These men and women labored for years to join the select 
group of NASA astronauts. Their 16-day mission was dedicated to 
research in physical, life, and space sciences. They conducted 
approximately 80 separate experiments comprised of hundreds of samples 
and tests, for 24 hours a day in alternating shifts. This selfless toil 
has repeatedly formed the basis of NASA's significant discoveries about 
our universe.
  The Columbia crew, by participating in this effort, fully endorsed 
manned space exploration, which has been among NASA's missions since 
its inception in 1958. Beginning with NASA's earliest Mercury, Gemini, 
and Apollo missions which first put men on the moon, to this year's 
Mars rovers, the benefits of space technology are far-reaching and 
affect the lives of every American. The work of people like those lost 
last year has led to myriad tangible benefits here on Earth, such as 
the life-saving CAT Scan. This very American desire to cross frontiers 
and explore our surroundings drives critical innovation and 
development, and it does not exist without people like those we 
commemorate today.
  I believe these cherished husbands and wives, sons, daughters, 
parents, and friends deserve to be counted among another exclusive 
number. For their bravery, dedication, audacity, and perseverance, 
these astronauts should be posthumous recipients of the Congressional 
Gold Medal, which is awarded as the highest expression of national 
appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. 
According to convention, this measure must be cosponsored by 67 
Senators before it can be considered, and I am certain my colleagues 
hold the Columbia crew in the same high regard as I do. I ask unanimous 
consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2697

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) On Saturday, February 1, 2003, the space shuttle 
     Columbia exploded upon re-entering the atmosphere following a 
     16-day mission.
       (2) Before the Columbia started its tragic descent, the 
     shuttle crew completed some 80 scientific experiments and 
     much of their research data had already been relayed to 
     Houston where it has added to the pool of scientific 
     knowledge.
       (3) The Nation pays tribute to the memory of Colonel Rick 
     Husband, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson, Commander 
     Laurel Clark, Captain David Brown, Commander William McCool, 
     Dr. Kapana Chawla, and Ilan Ramon, a colonel in the Israeli 
     air force. The diversity of crew represented the ideals of 
     our Nation.
       (4) These seven courageous explorers paid the ultimate 
     price to improve our understanding of the universe, to 
     advance our medical and engineering sciences, to make the 
     Nation safer and more secure, and to keep the United States 
     economy on the cutting edge of technology.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized, 
     on behalf of the Congress, to award a gold medal of 
     appropriate design to each of the seven crew members of the 
     space shuttle Columbia--
       (1) Rick D. Husband;
       (2) Michael P. Anderson;
       (3) Laurel Clark;
       (4) David M. Brown;
       (5) William C. McCool;
       (6) Kapana Chawla; and
       (7) Ilan Ramon.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose 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.

     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 cost thereof, including labor, 
     materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and 
     the cost of the gold medal.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

       The medals struck under 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.
                                 ______