[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 25697]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO BE AWARDED TO PRESIDENT AND MRS. FORD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, just a short time ago, we passed a 
resolution allowing the use of the rotunda for a ceremony to grant a 
Congressional Gold Medal to President and Mrs. Ford. I would like to 
give some background information on that award. I was very pleased to 
sponsor the bill that would grant them this medal because they have 
served this country so well for so many years.
  What is unique about this medal, this particular medal, and what is 
different than any previous medal in history, is that it will be 
awarded to both President and Mrs. Ford. I believe it very important to 
recognize the part that both of them played in the history of our 
country.
  Mrs. Ford contributed a great deal to the health of the women of this 
Nation by discussing very frankly and openly the fact that she had 
breast cancer. Now, that may seem rather mundane today, but at the time 
she developed breast cancer, she was the First Lady in the White House. 
Breast cancer was not discussed in polite society. It was whispered 
about. As a result, many women did not know what caused breast cancer. 
They did not know about self-examination. They did not know what 
treatments were available.
  Mrs. Ford announced that she had this terrible disease. She described 
the symptoms to this Nation. She worked with the media to publicize the 
nature of breast cancer. She was very effective in alerting the women 
of this Nation to the need for breast examination and treatment.
  In addition to that, later on in life, due to a number of pain 
medications that she was taking and the use of alcohol, Mrs. Ford 
recognized the need for treatment for alcoholism and drug dependency 
and started the Betty Ford Clinic. This has been a life-saving 
institution for many, many people. She still takes a personal interest 
in it, still visits with new patients as they come in, and has been 
very effective in helping many people recover from substance abuse or 
alcohol abuse.
  President Ford, of course, is well known as the President who healed 
our Nation after the resignation from office of President Nixon. 
However, since we have almost a generation elapsed since President Ford 
held office, I find many people simply are not aware of what was 
happening at that time and the incredible turmoil that this Nation felt 
at the time that President Nixon was undergoing examination by the 
Congress, facing impeachment, and eventually resigning from office.
  When President Ford took that office, he, in a very calm and 
deliberate manner, proceeded to heal this Nation. He restored order. He 
restored financial stability. He reduced interest rates. He improved 
the economy and showed that our government could survive a crisis like 
that and function well. For this, he deserves our thanks and our 
commendation.
  Because of this and because of the actions of both President and Mrs. 
Ford, I thought it very deserving that they receive the Congressional 
Gold Medal. This will be presented to them next week in the rotunda of 
the Capitol. I urge all Members to attend, and I urge also the citizens 
of this country to join me in applauding both Jerry and Betty Ford, 
President and Mrs. Ford, for their selfless service to this country for 
all the good that they have done for all of us.

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