PUBLIC LAW 109–287—SEPT. 27, 2006 120 STAT. 1231

Public Law 109–287

109th Congress

An Act

To award a congressional gold medal to Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama,

in recognition of his many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace,

non-violence, human rights, and religious understanding.

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 cited as the ‘‘Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai

Lama—

(1) is recognized in the United States and throughout the

world as a leading figure of moral and religious authority;

(2) is the unrivaled spiritual and cultural leader of the

Tibetan people, and has used his leadership to promote democracy, freedom, and peace for the Tibetan people through a

negotiated settlement of the Tibet issue, based on autonomy

within the People’s Republic of China;

(3) has led the effort to preserve the rich cultural, religious,

and linguistic heritage of the Tibetan people and to promote

the safeguarding of other endangered cultures throughout the

world;

(4) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his

efforts to promote peace and non-violence throughout the globe,

and to find democratic reconciliation for the Tibetan people

through his ‘‘Middle Way’’ approach;

(5) has significantly advanced the goal of greater understanding, tolerance, harmony, and respect among the different

religious faiths of the world through interfaith dialogue and

outreach to other religious leaders; and

(6) has used his moral authority to promote the concept

of universal responsibility as a guiding tenet for how human

beings should treat one another and the planet we share.

SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the House

of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate

shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on

behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design,

to Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in recognition of

his many enduring contributions to peace and religious understanding.

Fourteenth Dalai

Lama

Congressional

Gold Medal Act.

31 USC 5111

note.

Sept. 27, 2006

[S. 2784]

120 STAT. 1232 PUBLIC LAW 109–287—SEPT. 27, 2006

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2784:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 152 (2006):

May 25, considered and passed Senate.

Sept. 13, considered and passed House.

Æ

(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the presentation

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.

SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the

gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 under such regulations

as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the

cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery,

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

SEC. 5. 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 sections 5134 and

5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under

this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

(a) 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 pursuant to this Act.

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

duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.

Approved September 27, 2006.