[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 143 (Monday, September 16, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6058-S6059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3281. Mr. McCONNELL (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Tillis, and 
Mrs. Shaheen) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to 
the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for 
military activities of the Department of Defense, for

[[Page S6059]]

military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Jens Stoltenberg served as the Prime Minister of Norway 
     from 2000 to 2001 and 2005 to 2013.
       (2) Norway was a founding member of the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization (referred to in this Act as ``NATO'') on 
     April 4, 1949.
       (3) As Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg oversaw 
     Norway's increased defense spending levels and the 
     modernization of the Norwegian Armed Forces.
       (4) A primary objective of NATO is to provide security and 
     support to member nations and promote democratic values to 
     ensure stability and peace.
       (5) Jens Stoltenberg assumed the position of Secretary 
     General of NATO in October 2014.
       (6) The United States was the first NATO member to support 
     Jens Stoltenberg's appointment as Secretary General.
       (7) Jens Stoltenberg has led NATO through significant new 
     investments, reinforced its capabilities and enhanced the 
     collective defense of the Alliance.
       (8) Jens Stoltenberg has advocated for greater burden 
     sharing among members of the NATO Alliance, and under his 
     leadership the Alliance will see 23 member countries reach or 
     exceed the 2 percent defense spending commitment by 2024, 
     compared to 4 member countries in 2014.
       (9) Jens Stoltenberg's commitment to better burden sharing 
     has resulted in a stronger and more sustainable Alliance than 
     at any other time in NATO history.
       (10) Under Jens Stoltenberg's leadership, NATO has 
     successfully undergone multiple enlargement periods and has 
     extended membership to Finland, Montenegro, North Macedonia 
     and Sweden.
       (11) In addition to bolstering the collective security of 
     the Alliance, NATO enlargement indicates that an increasing 
     number of countries are meeting key benchmarks on the 
     military, political and legal requirements needed for NATO 
     accession, enhancing interoperability, defense expenditure 
     and intelligence sharing among member countries.
       (12) Jens Stoltenberg has increased NATO's partnerships 
     with Indo-Pacific countries to cooperate more closely to 
     address our shared global challenges including cyber defense, 
     emergency technologies, and the multitude of challenges posed 
     by the People's Republic of China.
       (13) Jens Stoltenberg included Indo-Pacific leaders at NATO 
     summits and traveled to the region which further cemented 
     these important partnerships.
       (14) Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 
     February 2022, Jens Stoltenberg has led the Alliance in 
     maintaining unprecedented unity against Putin's unprovoked, 
     illegal actions.
       (15) Since February 2022, NATO members have supplied 
     Ukraine with the equipment and resources it needs to defend 
     its democracy and its sovereignty.
       (16) Jens Stoltenberg successfully marshaled political and 
     financial support from Indo-Pacific partners to support 
     Ukraine, including contributions of munitions and military 
     equipment and sizeable financial contributions to NATO's 
     Comprehensive Assistance Plan Action Trust Fund for Ukraine.
       (17) Jens Stoltenberg's mandate was extended a total of 4 
     times with unanimous support by NATO allies, with 2 
     extensions agreed to following Russia's unprovoked invasion 
     of Ukraine.
       (18) Jens Stoltenberg is the second longest-serving 
     Secretary General, serving over 9 years in this position.
       (19) Jens Stoltenberg has re-committed that the NATO 
     Alliance will stand together against any threat posed to a 
     NATO member, ensuring continued peace and stability within 
     NATO territory and around the world.
       (b) Award and Design.--
       (1) 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 the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design 
     to Jens Stoltenberg, in recognition of his contributions to 
     the security, unity, and defense of the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization.
       (2) Design and striking.--For purposes of the award 
     referred to in paragraph (1), 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. The design shall bear a 
     image of, and inscription of the name of, Jens Stoltenberg.
       (c) Duplicate Medals.--The Secretary may strike and sell 
     duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under 
     subsection (b), at a price sufficient to cover the costs 
     thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
     and overhead expenses.
       (d) Status of Medals.--
       (1) National medals.--Medals struck under this Act are 
     national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, 
     United States Code.
       (2) 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.
       (e) Authority to Use Fund Amounts; Proceeds of Sale.--
       (1) 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.
       (2) Proceeds of sales.--Amounts received from the sale of 
     duplicate bronze medals authorized under subsection (c) shall 
     be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise 
     Fund.
                                 ______