I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2717
To authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress
honoring Wilma G. Rudolph in recognition of her enduring contributions
to humanity and women’s athletics in the United States and the world.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 23, 1997
Ms. KILPATRICK (for herself, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. BLUMENAUER Mr.
BONIOR, Mr. CAPPS, Ms. CARSON, Ms. CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Mr. CLEM-
ENT, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. DELAURO,
Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FORD, Mr. FRANK
of Massachusetts, Mr. FROST, Mr. GORDON, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. JACK-
SON of Illinois, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. JEN-
KINS, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. LANTOS, Ms.
MCKINNEY, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. MILLENDER-
MCDONALD, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. POSHARD, Ms.
RIVERS, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SANDLIN, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. STARK, Mr.
THOMPSON, Ms. WATERS, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Ms. WOOLSEY, and
Mr. WYNN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Banking and Financial Services
A BILL
To authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf
of the Congress honoring Wilma G. Rudolph in recogni-
tion of her enduring contributions to humanity and wom-
en’s athletics in the United States and the world.
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 finds that—
(1) Wilma G. Rudolph of Clarksville, Ten-
nessee, the 20th of 22 children, overcame a series of
childhood diseases, including scarlet fever, double
pneumonia, and polio, to become an athletic pioneer
and champion in the State of Tennessee, the United
States, and the world, first as an outstanding bas-
ketball player and track athlete in Tennessee, then
as a three-time gold medal winner in the 1960
Olympics in Rome, and finally as a pioneer for racial
equality, goodwill, and justice;
(2) Wilma G. Rudolph’s winning of 3 gold med-
als in the 1960 Olympics served as an inspiration to
athletes of all sports, races, and genders;
(3) Wilma G. Rudolph’s ability to inspire en-
dured after her performance in the 1960 Olympics,
as demonstrated by—
(A) her receipt in 1987 of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association’s Silver Anniver-
sary Award, the first time a woman ever re-
ceived the award;
(B) her receipt of the 1989 Jackie Robin-
son Image Award of the National Association
for 
the 
Advancement 
of 
Colored 
People
(NAACP);
(C) her induction into the National Track
and Field Hall of Fame in 1973;
(D) her receipt of the 1985 Humanitarian
of the Year Award of the Special Olympics; and
(E) her receipt in 1993 of the National
Sports Award from President William J. Clin-
ton, the only time a woman has received the
award;
(4) Wilma G. Rudolph, a graduate of Tennessee
State University, a successful businessperson, a
mother, an athlete, a coach, and a teacher, who
passed away on November 12, 1994, will forever re-
main an inspiration to all able-bodied and physically
challenged individuals in overcoming odds;
(5) Wilma G. Rudolph blazed a trail that
helped all people understand the contributions of
women to the world of athletics;
(6) Wilma G. Rudolph set the stage for the en-
actment of title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in edu-
cation programs receiving Federal assistance, and
which has led to increased participation in athletics
by women and more career options for women in the
United States;
(7) the legacy of Wilma G. Rudolph continues
to serve as a particular inspiration to women who,
25 years after the enactment of title IX of the Edu-
cation Amendments of 1972, are able to reap the
benefits of increased access to athletics; and
(8) Wilma G. Rudolph’s life truly embodied the
American values of hard work, determination, and
love of humanity.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The President is
authorized to award, on behalf of the Congress, a gold
medal of appropriate design honoring Wilma G. Rudolph
in recognition of her outstanding and enduring contribu-
tions to humanity and to women’s athletics in the United
States and the world.
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose of the
award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the
Treasury (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall
strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, 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 costs thereof, includ-
ing labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead
expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 4. STATUS AS NATIONAL MEDALS.
The medals struck pursuant to 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