[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 108 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Ensign, and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 3856. A bill to authorize Congress to award a gold medal to Jerry 
Lewis, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Nation; to the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senator 
Ensign and Senator Lautenberg to introduce legislation to award Jerry 
Lewis with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. This well-deserved 
recognition pays tribute to the many outstanding and enduring 
contributions Jerry Lewis has made throughout his career.
  Born in 1926 in Newark, NJ, this gifted comedian has been a fixture 
in the entertainment community for more than five decades keeping 
spirits high and Americans laughing during some of the most turbulent 
periods in our history--World War II, the Cold War, and the 
assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King 
Jr. But in addition to his comic persona, Lewis is also an active 
champion of charitable causes with an undying commitment to finding a 
cure for muscular dystrophy. Mr. Lewis has served for five decades as 
the National Chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which is 
an incredible organization dedicated to making a difference in the 
lives of countless families dealing with the challenges associated with 
muscular dystrophy. Forty years ago, he began the ``Jerry Lewis MDA 
Labor Day Telethon,'' an annual television program that benefits 
children and adults affected by muscular dystrophy and related 
neuromuscular diseases. This year, Mr. Lewis achieved an amazing 
accomplishment. His annual Labor Day telethon raised a record $61 
million to fight this disease.
  In September of 1976, this great body adopted a resolution expressing 
their appreciation of Jerry Lewis' philanthropic endeavors, in 
particular, his fight to find a cure for muscular dystrophy. Today, I 
believe a fitting accolade to this larger than life individual would be 
for him to join the ranks of distinguished Congressional Gold Medal 
recipients. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Jerry 
Lewis, supporting the fight to end muscular dystrophy, and co-
sponsoring this important legislation.
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