I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1179 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the former hostages of the Iran 
Hostage Crisis of 1979–1981, highlighting their resilience throughout 
the unprecedented ordeal which they lived through and the national 
unity it produced, marking four decades since their 444 days in captivity, 
and recognizing their sacrifice to our country. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 18, 2021 
Mr. SUOZZI (for himself, Mr. BACON, Mr. MOONEY, Mr. KILMER, Mr. 
CRENSHAW, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. TRONE, Mr. 
WESTERMAN, Mr. MCGOVERN, and Mr. HUFFMAN) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, 
and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the 
Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the former hostages 
of the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979–1981, highlighting 
their resilience throughout the unprecedented ordeal 
which they lived through and the national unity it pro-
duced, marking four decades since their 444 days in 
captivity, and recognizing their sacrifice to our country. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Iran Hostages Con-
gressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) On January 20, 1981, United States dip-
lomats, military personnel, and civilians were re-
leased after being held hostage for 444 days by mili-
tant student supporters of Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah 
Khomeini in a violation of international law. They 
were taken from the United States Embassy in 
Tehran, Iran, this came to be known as the Iran 
Hostage Crisis. 
(2) The hostages were subjected to intense 
physical and psychological torture throughout their 
captivity, such as mock execution, beatings, solitary 
confinement, and inhospitable living conditions. 
(3) Throughout their time held, they were rou-
tinely told to denounce the United States, when they 
refused, they were tortured, yet they remained 
strong in their spirit. 
(4) One hostage wrote ‘‘Viva la roja, blanco, y 
azul’’ which translates to ‘‘Long live the red, white, 
and blue’’ on the wall of his cell as a reminder of 
the values he swore to protect. 
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(5) The hostages showed extraordinary courage 
by continually engaging in acts of resistance against 
their captors in the face of gross violations of their 
human rights, such as refusing to sign condemna-
tions of the United States. 
(6) Many of the hostages still experience trau-
ma as a result of the events of the crisis and deserve 
to have their suffering recognized. 
(7) While 35 of the hostages are still living, it 
is important that we reflect on their resilience and 
strength which serve as an example to current gen-
erations. Let us acknowledge them as heroes, who 
stood in positions of great tribulation but who, for 
us, endured so that we may know the blessing of 
being an American. Let us be more like them. 
(8) On January 22, 1981, President Jimmy 
Carter met with the hostages in West Germany and 
stated, ‘‘One of the acts in my life which has been 
the most moving and gratifying in meeting with and 
discussing the future and the past with the now lib-
erated Americans who were held hostage in Iran for 
so long. I pointed out to them that, since their cap-
ture by the Iranian terrorists and their being held 
in this despicable act of savagery, that the American 
people’s hearts have gone out to them and the na-
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tion has been united as perhaps never before in his-
tory and that the prayers that have gone up from 
the people throughout the world to God for their 
safety have finally been answered.’’. 
(9) On January 28, 1981, when welcoming the 
hostages home, President Ronald Reagan stated, 
‘‘You‘ve come home to a people who for 444 days 
suffered the pain of your imprisonment, prayed for 
your safety, and most importantly, shared your de-
termination that the spirit of free men and women 
is not a fit subject for barter. You’ve represented 
under great stress the highest traditions of public 
service. Your conduct is symbolic of the millions of 
professional diplomats, military personnel, and oth-
ers who have rendered service to their country.’’. 
(10) During the 444 days the brave Americans 
were held, the rest of the country held its breath, 
waiting for news of the hostages. The country hoped 
and prayed together, as one, for the hostages’ safe 
return. 
(11) United States Ambassador to Iran from 
1979 to 1980 Bruce Laingen, the highest ranking 
diplomat held hostage, summed up the experience by 
saying ‘‘Fifty-three Americans who will always have 
a love affair with this country and who join with you 
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in a prayer of thanksgiving for the way in which this 
crisis has strengthened the spirit and resilience and 
strength that is the mark of a truly free society.’’. 
It is now our responsibility to honor the spirit, resil-
ience, and strength that the hostages displayed dur-
ing their 444 days of imprisonment. 
(12) Now, more than four decades later, we 
continue to honor the hostages. The recipients of 
this award are heroes in every sense of the word. 
They are role models that wore their American pride 
with esteem and have allowed for subsequent genera-
tions to appreciate the blessing of being an Amer-
ican. Today, as we prepare to mark 40 years after 
their release, we acknowledge their endurance, 
strength, and contributions to seeing a more peace-
ful world. They suffered for America and now it is 
our duty to recognize them for it. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITION. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘hostage’’ means an American 
that was taken captive on November 4, 1979, in Tehran, 
Iran, at the United States embassy and released on— 
(1) July 11, 1980; or 
(2) January 20, 1981. 
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SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) AWARD
AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and the President pro tempore 
of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the 
award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal of 
appropriate design to the 53 hostages of the Iran Hostage 
Crisis, in recognition of their bravery and endurance 
throughout their captivity which started on November 4, 
1979, and lasted until January 21, 1981. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purposes of the 
award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the 
Treasury (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and 
inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary. 
(c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of the 
gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal 
shall be given to the National Museum of American 
History of the Smithsonian Institution, where it 
shall be available for display as appropriate and 
made available for research. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should 
make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) 
available for loan, as appropriate, so that the medal 
may be displayed elsewhere. 
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SEC. 5. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
(a) SILVER DUPLICATE MEDALS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall strike 
duplicates in silver of the gold medal struck pursu-
ant to section 4 to be awarded in accordance with 
paragraph. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARD.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A hostage shall be eli-
gible to be awarded a silver duplicate medal 
struck under paragraph (1) in recognition of 
the endurance of the Iran Hostages. 
(B) DEATH OF A HOSTAGE.—In the event 
of the death of a hostage who has not been 
awarded a silver duplicate medal under this 
subsection, the Secretary may award a silver 
duplicate medal to the next of kin or other per-
sonal representative of the hostage. 
(b) BRONZE DUPLICATE MEDALS.—The Secretary 
may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal 
struck pursuant to section 4 under such regulations as the 
Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the 
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of ma-
chinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold 
and silver medals. 
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SEC. 6. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—The medals struck pursu-
ant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 
51 of title 31, United States Code. 
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 
5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck 
under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. 
SEC. 7. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 
titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 
Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro-
vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
Æ 
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