I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1335
To award a congressional gold medal to honor Jack Roosevelt Robinson.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 15, 1997
Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. OWENS, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. MOLINARI, Mr.
NADLER, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, and Ms. Vela´zquez) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Banking and
Financial Services
A BILL
To award a congressional gold medal to honor Jack Roosevelt
Robinson.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became
the first African-American to play Major League
Baseball, paving the way for others of all races to
compete on equal footing in baseball and every other
sport.
(2) Jackie Robinson’s pioneering achievement
advanced the cause of racial equality in every area,
predating the integration of America’s armed forces,
schools, political institutions, and public facilities.
(3) Jackie Robinson responded to threats, hos-
tility, and bigotry with dignity, strength, and cour-
age, allowing his performance on the field to elo-
quently silence his critics.
(4) In his 10-season career with the Brooklyn
Dodgers, Jackie Robinson proved to be one of the
greatest baseball players of all time; was inducted
into the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in
1962; won awards as Rookie of the Year in 1947
and Most Valuable Player in 1949; played for six
pennant-winning teams and one team that won the
World Series; compiled a lifetime batting average of
.311; led the National League in stolen bases twice;
and stole home plate 19 times.
(5) After his retirement from baseball, Jackie
Robinson became a businessman, philanthropist, and
activist, in particular promoting the causes of equal
opportunity, civil rights, and youth development, and
establishing the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The President is
authorized to present, on behalf of the Congress, to Rachel
Robinson and other family of the late Jack Roosevelt Rob-
inson, a gold medal of appropriate design in recognition
of Jack Roosevelt Robinson’s enduring contributions to ra-
cial equality, athletics, business, and charitable causes.
(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.
(c) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury may accept, use, and disburse gifts or donations
of property or money to carry out this section.
(2) APPROPRIATION
AUTHORIZED.—Not more
than $30,000 are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary of the Treasury may strike and sell
duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant
to section 2 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. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS.
The medals struck pursuant to this Act are—
(1) national medals, for purposes of chapter 51
of title 31, United States Code; and
(2) numismatic items, for purposes of section
5134 of such title.
Æ