II

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 2453

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

to Pope John Paul II in recognition of his outstanding and enduring

contributions to humanity, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 13, 2000

Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself, Mr. ABRAHAM Mr. AKAKA, Mr. ALLARD, Mr.

ASHCROFT, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr. BREAUX, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. BURNS,

Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. L. CHAFEE, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. CONRAD, Mr.

COVERDELL, Mr. CRAIG, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr. DEWINE, Mr.

DURBIN, Mr. DODD, Mr. DOMENICI, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. ENZI, Mrs.

FEINSTEIN, Mr. FRIST, Mr. FITZGERALD, Mr. GRAMS, Mr. GRASSLEY,

Mr. GREGG, Mr. HAGEL, Mr. HELMS, Mr. HOLLINGS, Mr. HUTCHINSON,

Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. KERREY, Mr. KERRY, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. LEAHY, Mr.

LIEBERMAN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LOTT, Mr. MACK, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr.

MCCONNELL, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. MOYNIHAN, Mr. MURKOWSKI, Mrs.

MURRAY, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. ROTH, Mr. SANTORUM, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr.

SESSIONS, Mr. SHELBY, Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire, Mr. SMITH of

Oregon, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. STEVENS, Mr. THOMAS, Mr.

TORRICELLI, Mr. VOINOVICH, and Mr. WARNER) introduced the following

bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking,

Housing, and Urban Affairs

A BILL

To authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf

of Congress to Pope John Paul II in recognition of

his outstanding and enduring contributions to humanity,

and for other purposes.
2

•S 2453 IS

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

4 Congress makes the following findings:

5 (1) Pope John Paul II, having transcended the

6 bounds of religion, race, and political thought, has

7 been a formidable champion, uniter, and defender in

8 the world’s struggle for peace and basic human

9 rights.

10 (2) Having witnessed firsthand the inequities

11 and brutal inhumanity of the tyranny of com12 munism, Pope John Paul II has remained a tireless

13 crusader against such inequities and inhumanity.

14 (3) The forceful vision and leading example of

15 Pope John Paul II have become a paradigm of hope

16 for our Nation and our Nation’s children, while the

17 Pope’s fierce resolve to his ideals continues to map

18 the way for our ever-changing world.

19 (4) Pope John Paul II has changed the lives of

20 billions of people across the globe.

21 (5) It is only appropriate for Congress to for22 malize its recognition and appreciation by awarding

23 Pope John Paul II the Congressional Gold Medal.
3

•S 2453 IS

1 SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

2 (a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of

3 the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate

4 are authorized to award to Pope John Paul II, on behalf

5 of Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design honoring

6 Pope John Paul II in recognition of his outstanding and

7 enduring contributions to humanity.

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

9 award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the

10 Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec11 retary’’) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems,

12 devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Sec13 retary.

14 SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

15 The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in

16 bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 2,

17 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe,

18 and at a price sufficient to cover the costs thereof, includ19 ing labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead

20 expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.

21 SEC. 4. STATUS AS NATIONAL MEDALS.

22 The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national

23 medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United

24 States Code.
4

•S 2453 IS

1 SEC. 5. FUNDING.

2 (a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—There is

3 authorized to be charged against the United States Mint

4 Public Enterprise Fund an amount not to exceed $30,000

5 to pay for the cost of the medals authorized by this Act.

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

7 sale of duplicate bronze medals under section 3 shall be

8 deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise

9 Fund.

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