I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2560
To award congressional gold medals to Jean Brown Trickey, Carlotta Walls
LaNier, Melba Patillo Beals, Terrence Roberts, Gloria Ray Karlmark,
Thelma Mothershed Wair, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, and Jeffer-
son Thomas, commonly referred to collectively as the ‘‘Little Rock Nine’’
on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the integration of Central
High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 25, 1997
Mr. THOMPSON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Banking and Financial Services
A BILL
To award congressional gold medals to Jean Brown Trickey,
Carlotta Walls LaNier, Melba Patillo Beals, Terrence
Roberts, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed
Wair, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, and Jefferson
Thomas, commonly referred to collectively as the ‘‘Little
Rock Nine’’ on the occasion of the 40th anniversary
of the integration of Central High School in Little Rock,
Arkansas.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.
The Congress hereby finds the following:
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(1) Jean Brown Trickey, Carlotta Walls La-
Nier, Melba Patillo Beals, Terrence Roberts, Gloria
Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed Wair, Ernest
Green, Elizabeth Eckford, and Jefferson Thomas,
hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘‘Little
Rock Nine’’, voluntarily subjected themselves to the
bitter stinging pains of racial bigotry.
(2) The Little Rock Nine are civil rights pio-
neers whose selfless acts considerably advanced the
civil rights debate in this country.
(3) The Little Rock Nine risked their lives to
integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Ar-
kansas, and subsequently the Nation.
(4) The Little Rock Nine sacrificed their inno-
cence to protect the American principle that we are
all ‘‘one nation, under God, indivisible’’.
(5) The Little Rock Nine have indelibly left
their mark on the history of this Nation.
(6) The Little Rock Nine have continued to
work towards equality for all Americans.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS.
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The President is
authorized to present, on behalf of the Congress, to Jean
Brown Trickey, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Melba Patillo
Beals, Terrence Roberts, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma
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Mothershed Wair, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, and
Jefferson Thomas, commonly referred to collectively as the
‘‘Little Rock Nine’’, gold medals of appropriate design,
in recognition of the selfless heroism such individuals ex-
hibited and the pain they suffered in the cause of civil
rights by integrating Central High School in Little Rock,
Arkansas.
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the
presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary
of the Treasury shall strike a gold medal with suitable em-
blems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the
Secretary for each recipient
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.—Effective
October 1, 1997, there are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
(a) STRIKING
AND SALE.—The Secretary of the
Treasury may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the
gold medals struck pursuant to section 2 under such regu-
lations 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.
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(b) REIMBURSEMENT OF APPROPRIATION.—The ap-
propriation used to carry out section 2 shall be reimbursed
out of the proceeds of sales under subsection (a).
SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.
The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national
medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United
States Code.
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