PUBLIC LAW 108–162—DEC. 6, 2003 117 STAT. 2017

Public Law 108–162

108th Congress

An Act

To award a congressional gold medal to Dr. Dorothy Height in recognition of

her many contributions to the Nation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Dr. Dorothy Irene Height was born March 24, 1912,

to James Edward Height and Fannie (Borroughs) Height in

Richmond, Virginia, and raised in Rankin, Pennsylvania.

(2) Dr. Height is recognized as one of the preeminent

social and civil rights activists of her time, particularly in

the struggle for equality, social justice, and human rights for

all peoples.

(3) Beginning as a civil rights advocate in the 1930s, she

soon gained prominence through her tireless efforts to promote

interracial schooling, to register and educate voters, and to

increase the visibility and status of women in our society.

(4) She has labored to provide hope for inner-city children

and their families, and she can claim responsibility for many

of the advances made by women and African-Americans over

the course of this century.

(5) Her public career spans over 65 years.

(6) Dr. Height was a valued consultant on human and

civil rights issues to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and she

encouraged President Eisenhower to desegregate the Nation’s

schools and President Johnson to appoint African-American

women to sub-Cabinet posts.

(7) Dr. Height has been President of the National Council

of Negro Women (NCNW) since 1957, a position to which she

was appointed upon the retirement of Dr. Mary McLeod

Bethune, one of the most influential African-American women

in United States history.

(8) The National Council of Negro Women is currently

the umbrella organization for 250 local groups and 38 national

groups engaged in economic development and women’s issues.

(9) Under Dr. Height’s leadership, the National Council

of Negro Women implemented a number of new and innovative

programs and initiatives, including the following:

(A) Operation Woman Power, a project to expand business ownership by women and to provide funds for vocational training.

(B) Leadership training for African-American women

in the rural South.

31 USC 5111

note.

Dec. 6, 2003

[H.R. 1821]

117 STAT. 2018 PUBLIC LAW 108–162—DEC. 6, 2003

(C) The Black Family Reunion, a nationwide annual

gathering to encourage, renew and celebrate the concept

of not only the Black family but all families.

(D) The Women’s Center for Education and Career

Advancement to empower minority women in nontraditional careers.

(E) The Bethune Museum and Archives, a museum

devoted to African-American women’s history.

(10) Dr. Height has been at the forefront of AIDS education,

both nationally and internationally; under her direction, the

National Council of Negro Women established offices in West

Africa and South Africa and worked to improve the conditions

of women in the developing world.

(11) Dr. Height has been central in the success of 2 other

influential women’s organizations, as follows:

(A) As president and executive board member of Delta

Sigma Theta, Dr. Height left the sorority more efficient

and globally focused with a centralized headquarters.

(B) Her work with the Young Women’s Christian

Association (YWCA) led to its integration and more active

participation in the civil rights movement.

(12) As a member of the ‘‘Big Six’’ civil rights leaders

with Whitney Young, A. Phillip Randolph, Martin Luther King,

Jr., James Farmer, and Roy Wilkins, Dr. Height was the only

female at the table when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,

Jr. and others made plans for the civil rights movement.

(13) Dr. Height is the recipient of many awards and

accolades for her efforts on behalf of women’s rights, including

the following:

(A) The Spingarn Award, the NAACP’s highest honor

for civil rights contributions.

(B) The Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by

President Clinton.

(C) The John F. Kennedy Memorial Award from the

National Council of Jewish Women.

(D) The Ministerial Interfaith Association Award for

her contributions to interfaith, interracial, and ecumenical

movements for over 30 years.

(E) The Lovejoy Award, the highest recognition by

the Grand Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order

of Elks of the World for outstanding contributions to human

relations.

(F) The Ladies Home Journal Woman of the Year

Award in recognition for her work for human rights.

(G) The William L. Dawson Award presented by the

Congressional Black Caucus for decades of public service

to people of color and particularly women.

(H) The Citizens Medal Award for distinguished service

presented by President Reagan.

(I) The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom Medal

awarded by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute.

(14) Dr. Dorothy Height has established a lasting legacy

of public service that has been an invaluable contribution to

the progress of this Nation.

PUBLIC LAW 108–162—DEC. 6, 2003 117 STAT. 2019

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1821:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 149 (2003):

Oct. 15, considered and passed House.

Nov. 21, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

SEC. 2. 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, to Dr. Dorothy Irene Height a gold medal

of appropriate design in recognition of her many contributions to

the Nation.

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

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

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

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

machinery, and overhead expenses.

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. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is hereby

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 medal authorized under section 2.

(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 December 6, 2003.