A bill to award special Congressional gold medals to Fred Waring, the widow of Joe Louis, and Louis L'Amour.
PL 97-246 (H.R.4647), enacted 08/26/1982

PUBLIC LAW 97-246—AUG. 26, 1982 
96 STAT. 315 
Public Law 97-246 
97th Congress 
An Act 
To award special congressional gold medals to Fred Waring, the widow of Joe Louis, 
and Louis L'Amour. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) the Presi-
dent of the United States is authorized to present, on behalf of 
Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design to Fred Waring in 
recognition of his contribution to enriching American life. For such 
purpose, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to 
cause to be struck a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and 
inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. 
There is authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $20,000 after 
October 1, 1981, to carry out the provisions of this subsection. 
(b) The Secretary of the Treasury may cause duplicates in bronze 
of such medal to be coined and sold under such regulations as he 
may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, includ-
ing labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, and 
the gold medal. The appropriation made to carry out the provisions 
of subsection (a) shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds of such 
sales. 
(c) The medals provided for in this section are national medals for 
the purpose of section 3551 of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 368). 
SEC. 2. (a) The President of the United States is authorized to 
present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate 
design to Mrs. Joe Louis in recognition of her late husband's accom-
plishments which did so much to bolster the spirit of the American 
people during one of the most crucial times in American history and 
which have endured throughout the years as a symbol of strength 
for the Nation. For such purpose, the Secretary of the Treasury is 
authorized and directed to cause to be struck a gold medal with 
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the 
Secretary of the Treasury. There is authorized to be appropriated 
not to exceed $20,000 after October 1, 1981, to carry out the provi-
sions of this subsection. 
(b) The Secretary of the Treasury may cause duplicates in bronze 
of such medal to be coined and sold under such regulations as he 
may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, includ-
ing labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, and 
the gold medal. The appropriation made to carry out the provisions 
of subsection (a) shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds of such 
sales. 
(c) The medals provided for in this section are national medals for 
the purpose of section 3551 of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 368). 
SEC. 3. (a) The President of the United States is authorized to 
present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate 
design to Louis L'Amour in recognition of his distinguished career 
as an author and his contributions to the Nation through his 
historically based works. For such purpose, the Secretary of the 
Aug. 26, 1982 
[H.R. 4647] ' 
Fred Waring; 
Mrs. Joe Louis; 
and Louis 
L'Amour. 
Gold Medals. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Duplicates. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Duplicates. 
96 STAT. 316 
PUBLIC LAW 97-246—AUG. 26, 1982 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Duplicates. 
Treasury is authorized and directed to cause to be struck a gold 
medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be deter-
mined by the Secretary of the Treasury. There is authorized to be 
appropriated not to exceed $20,000 after October 1,1981, to carry out 
the provisions of this subsection. 
(b) The Secretary of the Treasury may cause duplicates in bronze 
of such medal to be coined and sold under such regulations as he 
may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, includ-
ing labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, and 
the gold medal. The appropriation made to carry out the provisions 
of subsection (a) shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds of such 
sales. 
(c) The medals provided for in this section are national medals for 
the purpose of section 3551 of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 368). 
Approved August 26, 1982. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4647 (H.J. Res. 223): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 127 (1981): July 27, H.J. Res. 223 considered and passed House. 
Sept. 14, H.J. Res. 223, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Vol. 128 (1982): Aug. 2, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 12, considered and passed Senate.