[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

[[Page S7005]]

     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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