Father Theodore M. Hesburgh Congressional Gold Medal Act
PL 106-153 (H.R.1932), enacted 12/09/1999

PUBLIC LAW 106-153—DEC. 9, 1999 
113 STAT. 1733 
Public Law 106-153 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress 
to Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, in recognition of his outstanding and enduring 
contributions to civil rights, higher education, the Catholic Church, the Nation, 
and the global community. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Father Theodore M. Hesburgh 
Congressional Gold Medal Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., has made out-
standing £ind enduring contributions to American society 
through his activities in civil rights, higher education, the 
Catholic Church, the Nation, and the global community; 
(2) Father Hesburgh was a charter member of the United 
States Commission on Civil Rights from its creation in 1957 
and served as chairperson of the Commission from 1969 to 
1972; 
(3) Father Hesburgh was president of the University of 
Notre Dame from 1952 until 1987, and has been president 
emeritus since 1987; 
(4) Father Hesburgh is a national and international leader 
in higher education; 
(5) Father Hesburgh has been honored with the Elizabeth 
Ann Seton Award from the National Catholic Education 
Association and with more than 130 honorary degrees; 
(6) Father Hesburgh served as co-chairperson of the nation-
ally influential Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics 
and as chairperson, from 1994 to 1996, of the Board of Over-
seers of Harvard University; 
(7) Father Hesburgh served under President Ford as a 
member of the Presidential Clemency Board, charged with 
deciding the fates of persons committing offenses during the 
Vietnam conflict; 
(8) Father Hesburgh served as chairman of the board of 
the Overseas Development Council and in that capacity led 
fundraising efforts that averted mass starvation in Cambodia 
in 1979 and 1980; 
(9) Father Hesburgh served from 1979 to 1981 as chair-
person of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee 
Dec. 9, 1999 
[H.R. 1932] 
Father Theodore 
M. Hesburgh 
Congressional 
Gold Medal Act. 
31 u s e 5111 
note. 
113 STAT. 1734 
PUBLIC LAW 106-153—DEC. 9, 1999 
Policy, which made recommendations that served as the basis 
of congressional reform legislation enacted 5 years later; 
(10) Father Hesburgh served as ambassador to the 1979 
United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for 
Development; and 
(11) Father Hesburgh has served the Catholic Church in 
a variety of capacities, including his service from 1956 to 1970 
as the permanent Vatican representative to the International 
Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and his service as a member 
of the Holy See's delegation to the United Nations. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The President is authorized 
to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate 
design to Father Theodore M. Hesburgh in recognition of his out-
standing and enduring contributions to civil rights, higher edu-
cation, the Catholic Church, the Nation, and the global community. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For purposes of the presentation 
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. 4. DUPUCATE MEDALS. 
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the 
gold medal struck pursuant to section 3 imder such regulations 
as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the 
cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL MEDALS. 
The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals 
for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. 
SEC. 6. AUTHOMZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROCEEDS OF SALE. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be charged against the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund 
an amount not to exceed $30,000 to pay for the cost of the medal 
authorized by this Act. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-153—DEC. 9, 1999 
113 STAT. 1735 
(b) PROCEEDS OF SALE,—^Amounts received from the sales of 
duplicate bronze medals under section 4 shall be deposited in the 
Numismatic Public Enterprise Fimd. 
Approved December 9, 1999, 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1932: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999): 
Oct. 12, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.