[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7004-S7005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IRAN HOSTAGES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT
Ms. HASSAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged and the
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2607.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2607) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the
former hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981,
highlighting their resilience throughout the unprecedented
ordeal that they lived through and the national unity it
produced, marking 4 decades since their 444 days in
captivity, and recognizing their sacrifice to the United
States.
There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Ms. HASSAN. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read
a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered
made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (S. 2607) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading,
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
S. 2607
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 be cited as the ``Iran Hostages Congressional
Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On January 20, 1981, United States diplomats, military
personnel, and civilians were released after being held
hostage for 444 days by militant student supporters of Iran's
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in a violation of international
law. The individuals were taken from the United States
Embassy in Tehran, Iran, and the ordeal came to be known as
the Iran Hostage Crisis.
(2) The hostages were subjected to intense physical and
psychological torture throughout their captivity, such as
mock executions, beatings, solitary confinement, and
inhospitable living conditions.
(3) Throughout their time held, the hostages were routinely
told to denounce the United States and, when they refused,
they were tortured, but remained strong in their spirit.
(4) One hostage wrote ``Viva la roja, blanco, y azul'',
which translates to ``Long live the red, white, and blue'',
on the wall of his cell as a reminder of the values he swore
to protect.
(5) The hostages showed extraordinary courage by
continually engaging in acts of resistance against their
captors, such as by refusing to sign condemnations of the
United States, in the face of gross violations of their human
rights.
(6) Many of the hostages still experience trauma as a
result of the events of the crisis and deserve to have their
suffering recognized.
(7) While, as of the date of enactment of this Act, 35 of
the hostages are living, it is important that the people of
the United States reflect on the resilience and strength of
the hostages, which serve as an example to current
generations.
(8) The people of the United States should--
(A) acknowledge the hostages as heroes who--
(i) experienced great tribulation; and
(ii) endured, so that the people of the United States may
know the blessing of living in the United States; and
(B) strive to demonstrate the values shown by the hostages.
(9) On January 22, 1981, President Jimmy Carter met with
the hostages in West Germany and stated the following: ``One
of the
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acts in my life which has been the most moving and gratifying
in meeting with and discussing the future and the past with
the now liberated Americans who were held hostage in Iran for
so long. I pointed out to them that, since their capture by
the Iranian terrorists and their being held in this
despicable act of savagery, that the American people's hearts
have gone out to them and the Nation has been united as
perhaps never before in history and that the prayers that
have gone up from the people throughout the world to God for
their safety have finally been answered.''.
(10) On January 28, 1981, when welcoming the hostages home,
President Ronald Reagan stated the following: ``You've come
home to a people who for 444 days suffered the pain of your
imprisonment, prayed for your safety, and most importantly,
shared your determination that the spirit of free men and
women is not a fit subject for barter. You've represented
under great stress the highest traditions of public service.
Your conduct is symbolic of the millions of professional
diplomats, military personnel, and others who have rendered
service to their country.''.
(11) During the 444 days the brave hostages were held, the
rest of the United States held its breath, waiting for news
of the hostages. The United States hoped and prayed together,
as one, for the hostages' safe return.
(12) Bruce Laingen, who served as United States Ambassador
to Iran from 1979 to 1980 and was the highest ranking
diplomat held hostage, summed up the experience by saying the
following: ``Fifty-three Americans who will always have a
love affair with this country and who join with you in a
prayer of thanksgiving for the way in which this crisis has
strengthened the spirit and resilience and strength that is
the mark of a truly free society.''. It is now the
responsibility of the people of the United States to honor
the spirit, resilience, and strength that the hostages
displayed during their 444 days of imprisonment.
(13) Now, more than 4 decades later, the United States
continues to honor the hostages. The recipients of the award
bestowed by this Act are heroes in every sense of the word.
They are role models who wore their pride in the United
States with esteem and have allowed for subsequent
generations to appreciate the blessing of living in the
United States. Today, as we mark 40 years since their
release, the people of the United States acknowledge their
endurance, strength, and contributions to seeing a more
peaceful world. The hostages suffered for the United States
and now it is the duty of the United States to recognize them
for it.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``hostage'' means a person of the
United States who was taken captive on November 4, 1979, in
Tehran, Iran, at the United States embassy and released on--
(1) July 11, 1980; or
(2) January 20, 1981.
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate
shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf
of Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to
the 53 hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis, in recognition of
their bravery and endurance throughout their captivity, which
started on November 4, 1979, and lasted until January 21,
1981.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award
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, in consultation with the
Secretary of State.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal
under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the
National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian
Institution, where it shall be available for display as
appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal
received under paragraph (1) available for loan, as
appropriate, so that the medal may be displayed elsewhere.
SEC. 5. BRONZE DUPLICATE MEDALS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may strike and sell
duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to
section 4, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof,
including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and
overhead expenses.
(b) Proceeds of Sales.--The amounts received from the sale
of duplicate medals under subsection (a) shall be deposited
in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
SEC. 6. 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 under this Act.
SEC. 7. 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 section 5134 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this
Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 8. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
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