107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5138
AN ACT
To posthumously award congressional gold medals
to government workers and others who responded
to the attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon and perished and to people aboard
United Airlines Flight 93 who helped resist the
hijackers and caused the plane to crash, to re-
quire the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins
in commemoration of the Spirit of America, rec-
ognizing the tragic events of September 11,
2001, and for other purposes.
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5138
AN ACT
To posthumously award congressional gold medals to govern-
ment workers and others who responded to the attacks
on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and per-
ished and to people aboard United Airlines Flight 93
who helped resist the hijackers and caused the plane
to crash, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to
mint coins in commemoration of the Spirit of America,
recognizing the tragic events of September 11, 2001,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘True American Heroes
Act of 2002’’.
TITLE I—MEDALS FOR
RESPONDERS AND RESISTERS
SEC. 101. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS FOR GOVERN-
MENT WORKERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE
ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER
AND PERISHED.
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—In recognition of
the bravery and self-sacrifice of officers, emergency work-
ers, and other employees of State and local government
agencies, including the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey, and of the United States Government and
others, who responded to the attacks on the World Trade
Center in New York City, and perished in the tragic events
of September 11, 2001 (including those who are missing
and presumed dead), the Speaker of the House and the
President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appro-
priate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the
Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design for each
such officer, emergency worker, employee, or other indi-
vidual to the next of kin or other personal representative
of each such officer, emergency worker, employee, or other
individual.
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the
presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary
of the Treasury shall strike gold medals with suitable em-
blems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the
Secretary to be emblematic of the valor and heroism of
the men and women honored.
(c) DETERMINATION
OF RECIPIENTS.—The Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall determine the number of med-
als to be presented under this section and the appropriate
recipients of the medals after consulting with appropriate
representatives of Federal, State, and local officers and
agencies and the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey.
(d) DUPLICATIVE GOLD MEDALS FOR DEPART-
MENTS AND DUTY STATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall strike duplicates in gold of the gold medals
struck pursuant to subsection (a) for presentation to
each of the following, for permanent display in the
respective offices, houses, stations, or places of em-
ployment:
(A) The Governor of the State of New
York.
(B) The Mayor of the City of New York.
(C) The Commissioner of the New York
Police Department, the Commissioner of the
New York Fire Department, the head of emer-
gency medical services for the City of New
York, and the Chairman of the Board of Direc-
tors of the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey.
(D) Each precinct house, fire house, emer-
gency response station, or other duty station or
place of employment to which each person re-
ferred to in subsection (a) was assigned on Sep-
tember 11, 2001, for display in each such place
in a manner befitting the memory of such per-
sons.
(e) DUPLICATE BRONZE MEDALS.—Under such reg-
ulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary
may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal
struck under subsection (a) at a price sufficient to cover
the costs of the bronze medals (including labor, materials,
dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses) and the
cost of the gold medal.
(f) USE OF THE UNITED STATES MINT AT WEST
POINT, NEW YORK.—It is the sense of the Congress that
the medals authorized under this section should be struck
at the United States Mint at West Point, New York, to
the greatest extent possible.
SEC. 102. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS FOR PEOPLE
ABOARD UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 93 WHO
HELPED 
RESIST 
THE 
HIJACKERS 
AND
CAUSED THE PLANE TO CRASH.
(a) CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.—The Congress finds
as follows:
(1) On September 11, 2001, United Airlines
Flight 93, piloted by Captain James Dahl, departed
from Newark International Airport at 8:01 a.m. on
its scheduled route to San Francisco, California,
with 7 crew members and 38 passengers on board.
(2) Shortly after departure, United Airlines
Flight 93 was hijacked by terrorists.
(3) At 10:37 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93
crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
(4) Evidence indicates that people aboard
United Airlines Flight 93 learned that other hi-
jacked planes had been used to attack the World
Trade Center in New York City and resisted the ac-
tions of the hijackers on board.
(5) The effort to resist the hijackers aboard
United Airlines Flight 93 appears to have caused
the plane to crash prematurely, potentially saving
hundreds or thousands of lives and preventing the
destruction of the White House, the Capitol, or an-
other important symbol of freedom and democracy.
(6) The leaders of the resistance aboard United
Airlines Flight 93 demonstrated exceptional bravery,
valor, and patriotism, and are worthy of the appre-
ciation of the people of the United States.
(b) PRESENTATION OF CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MED-
ALS AUTHORIZED.—In recognition of heroic service to the
Nation, the Speaker of the House and the President pro
tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrange-
ments for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of
a gold medal of appropriate design for each passenger or
crew member on board United Airlines Flight 93 who is
identified by the Attorney General as having aided in the
effort to resist the hijackers on board the plane to the
next of kin or other personal representative of each such
individual.
(c) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose of the
presentation referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary
of the Treasury shall strike gold medals of a single design
with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be de-
termined by the Secretary.
(d) DUPLICATE MEDALS.—Under such regulations
as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, the Sec-
retary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medals struck under subsection (b) at a price sufficient
to cover the cost of the bronze medals (including labor,
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses)
and the cost of the gold medals.
SEC. 103. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS FOR GOVERN-
MENT WORKERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE
ATTACKS ON THE PENTAGON AND PERISHED.
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—In recognition of
the bravery and self-sacrifice of officers, emergency work-
ers, and other employees of the United States Govern-
ment, who responded to the attacks on the Pentagon
Washington, D.C. and perished in the tragic events of
September 11, 2001 (including those who are missing and
presumed dead) the Speaker of the House and the Presi-
dent pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate
arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Con-
gress, of a gold medal of appropriate design for each such
officer, emergency worker, or employee to the next of kin
or other personal representative of each such officer, emer-
gency worker, or employee.
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose of the
presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary
of the Treasury shall strike gold medals of a single design
with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be de-
termined by the Secretary.
(c) DETERMINATION
OF RECIPIENTS.—The Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall determine the number of med-
als to be presented under this section and the appropriate
recipients of the medals after consulting with the Sec-
retary of Defense and any other appropriate representa-
tive of Federal, State, and local officers and agencies.
SEC. 104. NATIONAL MEDALS.
The medals struck under this title are national med-
als for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.
TITLE II—SPIRIT OF AMERICA
COMMEMORATIVE COINS
SEC. 201. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) On September 11, 2001, the United States
suffered the worst act of terrorism in its history.
(2) The more than 6,000 people who lost their
lives as a result of the terrorist attacks that oc-
curred in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in
Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, will not be
forgotten.
(3) Hundreds of emergency personnel re-
sponded heroically to the crisis and lost their lives
as a result.
(4) People from everywhere in the United
States responded to the crisis with an outpouring of
support for the victims of the terrorist attacks and
their families.
(5) The civilized world stands with strength and
fortitude in opposition to the cowardly terrorist at-
tacks against the United States that occurred on
September 11, 2001.
(6) It is essential to remember not only the
tragedy of the attacks, but also the strength and re-
solve demonstrated by the people of the United
States in the aftermath of the attacks.
(7) The minting of coins in commemoration of
the Spirit of America will pay tribute to the count-
less heroes who risked their lives during the terrorist
attacks and in their aftermath so that others may
live and to a united people whose belief in freedom,
justice, and democracy has never swayed.
SEC. 202. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) DENOMINATIONS.—In commemoration of the
Spirit of America, the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter
in this title referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall mint and
issue the following coins:
(1) $50 GOLD COINS.—Such number of 50 dol-
lar coins as the Secretary determines under sub-
section (b), which shall—
(A) weigh 1 ounce;
(B) have a diameter of 1.287 inches; and
(C) contain 91.67 percent gold and 8.33
percent alloy.
(2) $1 SILVER COINS.—Such number of 1 dollar
coins as the Secretary determines appropriate to
meet demand, which shall—
(A) weigh 26.73 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(C) contain 90 percent silver and 10 per-
cent copper.
(3) HALF DOLLAR CLAD COINS.—Such number
of half dollar coins as the Secretary determines ap-
propriate to meet demand, which shall—
(A) weigh 11.34 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and
(C) be minted to the specifications for half
dollar coins contained in section 5112(b) of title
31, United States Code.
(b) NUMBER OF GOLD COINS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The number of gold coins
minted and issued under this title shall equal the
sum of 25,000 and the number determined under
paragraph (2).
(2) DETERMINATION
OF
NUMBER.—The Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Attorney General of
the United States and the Governors of New York,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia shall determine the num-
ber of innocent individuals confirmed or presumed to
have been killed as a result of the terrorist attacks
against the United States that occurred on Sep-
tember 11, 2001, and shall identify such individuals.
The Secretary, under subsection (a)(1), shall mint
and issue a number of 50 dollar coins equal to the
number of such individuals.
(c) LEGAL TENDER.—The coins minted under this
title shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of
title 31, United States Code.
(d) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section
5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted
under this title shall be considered to be numismatic items.
(e) SOURCES
OF BULLION.—For the purpose of
minting coins under this title, the Secretary may only use
metals that are from natural deposits in the United States
or any territory or possession of the United States.
(f) SPECIAL TREATMENT UNDER EXIGENT CIR-
CUMSTANCES.—
(1) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows:
(A) The limitations contained in para-
graphs (1) and (2)(A) of section 5112(m) of
title 31, United States Code, and section
5134(f)(1)(B) of such title have well served,
and continue to serve, their purpose of bringing
greater stability to the markets for commemo-
rative coins, maximizing demand and participa-
tion in such programs, and ensuring that such
programs have a broad base of private support
and are not used as the primary means of fund-
raising by organizations that are the recipients
of surcharges.
(B) The shocking circumstances of Sep-
tember 11, 2001, the broad base of public inter-
est in showing the Spirit of America and par-
ticipating in the raising of funds for the victims
of the crimes committed on that date, and the
importance of implementing this coin program
as quickly as possible, notwithstanding the fact
that 2 commemorative coin programs are al-
ready in effect for 2001 and 2002, justify ex-
empting the coins produced under this title
from such limitations.
(2) EXEMPTION.—Paragraphs (1) and (2) of
section 5112(m) of title 31, United States Code, and
section 5134(f)(1)(B) of such title shall not apply to
coins authorized under this title.
SEC. 203. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The design of the coins minted
under this title shall be emblematic of the tragic events
that occurred at the Pentagon, in New York City, and in
Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001.
(b) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS.—On each coin
minted under this title there shall be—
(1) a designation of the value of the coin;
(2) an inscription of the date ‘‘September 11,
2001’’ (and such coin shall bear no other date); and
(3) inscriptions of the words ‘‘Liberty’’, ‘‘In
God We Trust’’, ‘‘United States of America’’, and
‘‘E Pluribus Unum’’.
(c) SELECTION.—The design for the coins minted
under this title shall be selected by the Secretary after
consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts.
SEC. 204. STRIKING AND ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) QUALITY OF COINS.—