[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FOURTEENTH DALAI LAMA CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

  The bill (S. 2784) to award a congressional gold medal to Tenzin 
Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in recognition of his many enduring 
and outstanding contributions to peace, non-violence, human rights, and 
religious understanding, was considered, ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, read the third time, and passed; as follows:
       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may cited as the ``Fourteenth Dalai Lama 
     Congressional Gold Medal Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai 
     Lama--
       (1) is recognized in the United States and throughout the 
     world as a leading figure of moral and religious authority;
       (2) is the unrivaled spiritual and cultural leader of the 
     Tibetan people, and has used his leadership to promote 
     democracy, freedom, and peace for the Tibetan people through 
     a negotiated settlement of the Tibet issue, based on autonomy 
     within the People's Republic of China;
       (3) has led the effort to preserve the rich cultural, 
     religious, and linguistic heritage of the Tibetan people and 
     to promote the safeguarding of other endangered cultures 
     throughout the world;
       (4) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his 
     efforts to promote peace and non-violence throughout the 
     globe, and to find democratic reconciliation for the Tibetan 
     people through his ``Middle Way'' approach;
       (5) has significantly advanced the goal of greater 
     understanding, tolerance, harmony, and respect among the 
     different religious faiths of the world through interfaith 
     dialogue and outreach to other religious leaders; and
       (6) has used his moral authority to promote the concept of 
     universal responsibility as a guiding tenet for how human 
     beings should treat one another and the planet we share.

     SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate 
     shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on 
     behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate 
     design, to Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in 
     recognition of his many enduring contributions to peace and 
     religious understanding.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation 
     referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury 
     (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a 
     gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions 
     to be determined by the Secretary.

     SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of 
     the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 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.

     SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

       (a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this 
     Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 
     31, United States Code.
       (b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 
     5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under 
     this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

       (a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to 
     be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise 
     Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of 
     the medals struck pursuant to this Act.
       (b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of 
     duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be 
     deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

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