PUBLIC LAW 106–225—JUNE 20, 2000 114 STAT. 457

Public Law 106–225

106th Congress

An Act

To authorize the President to award posthumously a gold medal on behalf of

the Congress to Charles M. Schulz in recognition of his lasting artistic contributions to the Nation and the world, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) Charles M. Schulz was born on November 26, 1922,

in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of Carl and Dena Schulz.

(2) Charles M. Schulz served his country in World War

II, working his way up from infantryman to staff sergeant

and eventually leading a machine gun squad. He kept morale

high by decorating fellow soldiers’ letters home with cartoons

of barracks life.

(3) After returning from the war, Charles M. Schulz

returned to his love for illustration, and took a job with ‘‘Timeless Topix’’. He also took a second job as an art instructor.

Eventually, his hard work paid off when the Saturday Evening

Post began purchasing a number of his single comic panels.

(4) It was in his first weekly comic strip, ‘‘L’il Folks’’,

that Charlie Brown was born. That comic strip, which was

eventually renamed ‘‘Peanuts’’, became the sole focus of Charles

M. Schulz’s career.

(5) Charles M. Schulz drew every frame of the ‘‘Peanuts’’

strip, which ran 7 days a week, since it was created in October

1950. This is rare dedication in the field of comic illustration.

(6) The ‘‘Peanuts’’ comic strip appeared in 2,600 newspapers

around the world daily until January 3, 2000, and on Sundays

until February 13, 2000, and reached approximately

335,000,000 readers every day in 20 different languages,

making Charles M. Schulz the most successful comic illustrator

in the world.

(7) Charles M. Schulz’s television special, ‘‘A Charlie Brown

Christmas’’, has run for 34 consecutive years. In all, more

than 60 animated specials have been created based on ‘‘Peanuts’’ characters. Four feature films, 1,400 books, and a hit

Broadway musical about the ‘‘Peanuts’’ characters have also

been produced.

(8) Charles M. Schulz was a leader in the field of comic

illustration and in his community. He paved the way for other

artists in this field over the last 50 years and continues to

be praised for his outstanding achievements.

(9) Charles M. Schulz gave back to his community in many

ways, including owning and operating Redwood Empire Ice

Arena in Santa Rosa, California. The arena has become a

favorite gathering spot for people of all ages. Charles M. Schulz

also financed a yearly ice show that drew crowds from all

over the San Francisco Bay Area.

(10) Charles M. Schulz gave the Nation a unique sense

of optimism, purpose, and pride. Whether through the Great

31 USC 5111

note.

June 20, 2000

[H.R. 3642]

114 STAT. 458 PUBLIC LAW 106–225—JUNE 20, 2000

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3642:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: Vol. 146 (2000):

Feb. 15, considered and passed House.

May 2, considered and passed Senate, amended.

June 6, House concurred in Senate amendments.

Æ

Pumpkin Patch, the Kite Eating Tree, Lucy’s Psychiatric Help

Stand, or Snoopy’s adventures with the Red Baron, ‘‘Peanuts’’

embodied human vulnerabilities, emotions, and potential.

(11) Charles M. Schulz’s lifetime of work linked generations

of Americans and became a part of the fabric of our national

culture.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

(a) AWARD AUTHORIZED.—The President is authorized to award

posthumously, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design to Charles M. Schulz in recognition of his lasting

artistic contributions to the Nation and the world.

(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose of the award

referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter

in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) 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 may prescribe, the

Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold

medal struck under section 2 at a price sufficient to cover the

costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of

machinery, overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

The medals struck under this Act are national medals for

purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

SEC. 5. FUNDING AND PROCEEDS OF SALE.

(a) AUTHORIZATION.—There is authorized to be charged against

the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund an amount not

to exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medals authorized

by this Act.

(b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.—Amounts received from the sale of

duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be deposited in the

United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

Approved June 20, 2000.