I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 258
To authorize the President to posthumously award a gold medal on behalf 
of the Congress to the seven members of the crew of the space shuttle 
Columbia in recognition of their outstanding and enduring contributions 
to the Nation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2005
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To authorize the President to posthumously award a gold 
medal on behalf of the Congress to the seven members 
of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia in recognition 
of their outstanding and enduring contributions to the 
Nation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) On Saturday, February 1, 2003, the space 
shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entering the at-
mosphere following a 16-day mission.
(2) Before the Columbia started its tragic de-
scent, the shuttle crew completed some 80 scientific 
experiments and much of their research data had al-
ready been relayed to Houston where it has added 
to the pool of scientific knowledge. 
(3) The Nation pays tribute to the memory of 
Colonel Rick Husband, Lieutenant Colonel Michael 
Anderson, Commander Laurel Clark, Captain David 
Brown, Commander William McCool, Dr. Kapana 
Chawla, and Ilan Ramon, a colonel in the Israeli air 
force. The diversity of crew represented the ideals of 
our Nation. 
(4) These seven courageous explorers paid the 
ultimate price to improve our understanding of the 
universe, to advance our medical and engineering 
sciences, to make the Nation safer and more secure, 
and to keep the United States economy on the cut-
ting edge of technology. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The President is 
authorized, on behalf of the Congress, to award a gold 
medal of appropriate design to each of the seven crew 
members of the space shuttle Columbia—
(1) Rick D. Husband; 
(2) Michael P. Anderson;
(3) Laurel Clark; 
(4) David M. Brown; 
(5) William C. McCool; 
(6) Kapana Chawla; and 
(7) Ilan Ramon. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose 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. 
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in 
bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 
under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, 
and at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, includ-
ing labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and 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. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—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.
Æ