A bill to authorize the President of the United States to award congressional gold medals to Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky in recognition of their dedication to human rights, and to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to sell bronze duplicates of those medals.
PL 99-298 (S.2308), enacted 05/13/1986

100 STAT. 432 
PUBLIC LAW 99-298—MAY 13, 1986 
Public Law 99-298 
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99th Congress 
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joH An Act 
To authorize the President of the United States to award congressional gold medals to 
May 13, 1986 
Natan (Anatoly) and Avital Shcharansky in recognition of their dedication to 
[S. 2308] 
human rights, and to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to sell bronze 
duplicates of those medals. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
31 use 5111 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds t h a t -
(1) Avital Shcharansky and Natan (Anatoly) Shcharansky 
have displayed immense courage and commitment to the 
preservation of individual human rights, regarded as among the 
highest of ideals by the American people; 
(2) Natan (Anatoly) Shcharansky, a prominent founding 
,,, 
member of the Moscow Helsinki Monitoring Group and active 
spokesman for the human rights denied to Soviet Jews, was 
.^ ^ unjustly arrested by the Soviet Union in 1977 and imprisoned 
for almost nine years on the false charges of espionage and 
I,, ^
_ treason; 
(3) Natan (Anatoly) Shcharansky, during his lengthy incarcer-
ation and isolation, was subjected to ongoing emotional and 
physical deprivation of the highest magnitude, yet continued to 
display raw courage and the noblest commitment to his rights 
as an individual, thereby setting an example for others whose 
individual freedoms are being denied; 
(4) freedom is the ideal held most dear by the American 
people, and Natan (Anatoly) Shcharansky has become a sjnnbol 
of that love of freedom; 
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(5) Avital Shcharansky, while her husband was kept silent by 
Soviet prisons and labor camps, waged an indefatigable cam-
paign around the world on behalf of her husband and others 
similarly treated; 
(6) Avital Shcharansky's earnest persistence and dedication to 
the precepts of freedom of thought, word, and deed raised the 
consciousness of the world while she valiantly worked for her 
husband's release, thus elevating human rights to a global 
concern; and 
(7) their reunion is evidence of the triumph of the human 
spirit against all adversities. 
31 use 5111 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) AWARD.—The President of the United States is authorized and 
requested to present, on behalf of the Congress, gold medals to 
Natan (Anatoly) and Avital Shcharansky in recognition of their 
supreme dedication and total commitment to the cause of individual 
human rights and freedoms. 
(b) DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.—For purposes of the presentation 
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter 
PUBLIC LAW 99-298—MAY 13, 1986 
100 STAT. 433 
in this Act referred to as the "Secretary") shall cause to be struck 
two gold medals with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to 
be determined by the Secretary. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated not to exceed $30,000 to carry out the provisions of 
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this section. 
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SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
31 USC 5111 
note. 
(a) CONSTRUCTION AND SALE.—The Secretary may cause duplicates 
in bronze of the gold medals provided for in section 2 to be coined 
and sold under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, at a price 
sufficient to cover the cost of such duplicates and such gold medals, 
including labor, material, dies, use of machinery, and overhead 
expenses. 
(b) REIMBURSEMENT OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Any appropriation made 
under section 2 shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds of the sales 
referred to in subsection (a). 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS. 
31 USC 5111 
The medals provided for in this Act shall be considered to be 
national medals for purposes of section 5111 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
Approved May 13, 1986. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2308 (H.R. 4186): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 132 (1986): 
May 8, considered and passed Senate. 
May 12, H.R. 4186 considered and passed House; proceedings vacated and 
S. 2308 passed in lieu.