    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 113-114
    113th Congress

    An Act

    To award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon Peres. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
    SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
    (1) Shimon Peres was born in Poland in 1923.
    (2) The Peres family emigrated to Tel Aviv in 1934, and all
    of the family members of Shimon Peres who remained in Poland
    were murdered during the Holocaust.
    (3) Before Israel gained independence, Shimon Peres earned
    the respect of senior leaders in the independence movement in
    Israel, most notably David Ben-Gurion.
    (4) The founding generation of Israel was central to the
    development of Israel, and Shimon Peres is the only surviving
    member of that founding generation.
    (5) Shimon Peres has served in numerous high-level cabinet
    positions and ministerial posts in Israel, including head of the
    Israeli Navy, Minister of Defense, Foreign Minister, Prime
    Minister, and President, among many others.
    (6) Shimon Peres has honorably served Israel for over 70
    years, during which he has significantly contributed to United
    States interests and has played a pivotal role in forging the
    strong and unbreakable bond between the United States and
    Israel.
    (7) By presenting the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon
    Peres, the first to be awarded to a sitting President of Israel,
    Congress proclaims its unbreakable bond with Israel and
    reaffirms its continual support for Israel as we commemorate the
    65th anniversary of the independence of Israel and the 90th
    birthday of Shimon Peres, which are both significant milestones
    in Israeli history.
    (8) Maintaining strong bilateral relations between the
    United States and Israel has been a priority of Shimon Peres
    since he began working with the United States in the days of
    John F. Kennedy. The strong bond is exemplified by the
    following:
    (A) President Reagan said to Shimon Peres upon his
    visit to the United States, ``Mr. Prime Minister, I
    thank you very much for your visit. It's been an
    occasion to renew a friendship and to review and enhance
    the strength of our unique bilateral relationship.''.

    [[Page 1176]]

    (B) At another point President Reagan said of Shimon
    Peres, ``His vision, his statesmanship and his tenacity
    are greatly appreciated here.''.
    (C) While visiting with Shimon Peres at the
    Residence of the President in Jerusalem, President Obama
    described Shimon Peres as ``* * * a son of Israel who's
    devoted his life to keeping Israel strong and sustaining
    the bonds between our two nations''.
    (D) On March 20, 2013, Shimon Peres reaffirmed his
    belief in the relationship between the United States and
    Israel, stating, ``America stood by our side from the
    very beginning. You support us as we rebuild our ancient
    homeland and as we defend our land. From Holocaust to
    redemption.''.
    (E) On March 21, 2013, Shimon Peres stated, ``* * *
    America is so great and we are so small. But I learned
    that you don't measure us by size, but by values. When
    it comes to values, we are you and you are us * * * As I
    look back, I feel that the Israel of today has exceeded
    the vision we had 65 years ago. Reality has surpassed
    our dreams. The United States of America helped us to
    make this possible.''.
    SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Award Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the Senate and
    the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make appropriate
    arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold
    medal of appropriate design in honor of President Shimon Peres.
    (b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the award referred to
    in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a gold
    medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined
    by the Secretary.
    SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

    Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may
    prescribe, the Secretary may strike duplicate medals in bronze of the
    gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 and sell such duplicate medals
    at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor,
    materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.

    [[Page 1177]]

    SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

    Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes
    of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

    Approved June 9, 2014.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2939:
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    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
    May 19, considered and passed House.
    May 20, considered and passed Senate.