H. R. 3557
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
An Act
To authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress
to John Cardinal O’Connor, Archbishop of New York, in recognition of his accom-
plishments as a priest, a chaplain, and a humanitarian.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) His Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor is a man of
deep compassion, great intellect, and tireless devotion to both
spiritual guidance and humanitarianism.
(2) John Joseph O’Connor was born on January 15, 1920,
in southwest Philadelphia, the son of Thomas J. O’Connor
and Mary Gomple O’Connor.
(3) John Cardinal O’Connor joined the Navy Chaplains
Corps in June 1952 during the Korean Conflict, served with
elements of both the Navy and the Marine Corps, and saw
combat action in Vietnam. He later served as chaplain of the
United States Naval Academy and was appointed as Chief
of Chaplains of the Navy with the grade of rear admiral,
from which position he retired four years later, in May 1979.
He was ordained a Bishop by Pope John Paul II on May
27, 1979. He then served as Vicar General of the Military
Ordinariate (now the Archdiocese for the Military Services)
until 1984.
(4) John Cardinal O’Connor became Bishop of Scranton,
Pennsylvania, on May 10, 1983, was named Archbishop of
the Catholic Archdiocese of New York on January 31, 1984,
and was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by Pope John Paul
II on May 25, 1985.
(5) 
John 
Cardinal 
O’Connor 
has 
demonstrated 
an
unwavering commitment to public and parochial school edu-
cation. He has supported and strengthened Catholic schools
in their mission to provide a quality education to students
of all races, ethnic backgrounds, and religions in the Arch-
diocese of New York and throughout the Nation.
(6) John Cardinal O’Connor has provided comfort and care
to the sick, the elderly, and the disabled and provided millions
of people with spiritual and emotional support. He lead the
effort to open New York State’s first AIDS-only unit at St.
Claire’s Hospital, remaining a frequent visitor and volunteer
at the hospital.
H. R. 3557—2
(7) Throughout his life, John Cardinal O’Connor has also
served on behalf of the poor and the oppressed, as exemplified
by his assistance on behalf of famine victims in Ethiopia and
victims in war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina.
(8) Throughout his career, John Cardinal O’Connor has
been a strong advocate of interfaith healing and understanding,
particularly among individuals of the Catholic and Jewish
faiths, and has played a significant role in helping to establish
diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Israel.
(9) John Cardinal O’Connor took the inspiring words of
the Declaration of Independence—‘‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness’’—and transformed them into a statement of pur-
pose. He has dedicated his life’s work to protecting and
defending these inalienable rights of all people.
(10) John Cardinal O’Connor celebrated his 80th birthday
on January 15, 2000, and has displayed remarkable courage
and the true power of his faith in carrying on his life’s work
in the face of life-threatening illness.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The President is authorized
to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate
design to John Cardinal O’Connor, Archbishop of New York, in
recognition of his accomplishments as a priest, a soldier, and a
humanitarian.
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the purpose of the presentation
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter
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.
Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the
Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck under section 2 at a price sufficient to cover the
costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of
machinery, 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 AND PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—There is hereby 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.
H. R. 3557—3
(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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.