A joint resolution to provide that a special gold medal honoring George Gershwin be presented to his sister, Frances Gershwin Godowsky, and a special gold medal honoring Ira Gershwin be presented to his widow, Lenore Gershwin, and to provide for the production of bronze duplicates of such medals for sale to the public.
PL 99-86 (H.J.Res.251), enacted 08/09/1985

99 STAT. 288 
PUBLIC LAW 99-86—AUG. 9, 1985 
Public Law 99-86 
99th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To provide that a special gold medal honoring George Gershwin be presented to his 
Aug. 9, li>a5 
sister, Frances Gershwin Godowsky, and a special gold medal honoring Ira Gersh-
[H.J. Res. 251] 
win be presented to his widow, Leonore Gershwin, and to provide for the production 
of bronze duplicates of such medals for sale to the public. 
Whereas George and Ira Gershwin, individually and jointly, created 
music which is undeniably American and which is internationally 
admired; 
Whereas George Gershwin composed works acclaimed both as classi-
cal music and as popular music, including "Rhapsody in Blue", 
"An American in Paris", "Concerto in F", and "Three Preludes 
for Piano"; 
Whereas Ira Gershwin won a Pulitzer Prize for the lyrics for "Of 
Thee I Sing", the first lyricist ever to receive such prize; 
Whereas Ira Gershwin composed the lyrics for major Broadway 
productions, including "A Star is Born", "Lady in the Dark", "The 
Barkleys of Broadway", and for hit songs, including "I Can't Get 
Started", "Long Ago and Far Away", and "The Man That Got 
Away"; 
Whereas George and Ira Gershwin collaborated to compose the 
music and lyrics for major Broadway productions, including 
"Lady Be Good", "Of Thee I Sing", "Strike Up the Band", "Oh 
Kay!", and "Funny Face"; 
Whereas George and Ira Gershwin collaborated to produce the opera 
"Porgy and Bess" and the 50th anniversary of its first perform-
ance will occur during 1985; 
Whereas George and Ira Gershwin collaborated to compose the 
music and lyrics for important contributions to the American 
song, including "I Got Rhythm", "Summertime", "Love is Here to 
Stay", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, 
"I Got Plenty of Nuttin' ", and "Someone to Watch Over Me"; and 
Whereas George and Ira Gershwin have made outstanding and 
invaluable contributions to American music, theatre, and culture: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) the President of 
the United States is authorized to present, on behalf of the Congress, 
to Frances Gershwin Godowsky, the sister of George Gershwin, and 
to Leonore Gershwin, the widow of Ira Gershwin, gold medals of 
appropriate design in recognition of George and Ira Gershwin's 
outstanding and invaluable contributions to American music, thea-
tre and culture. For such purpose, the Secretary of the Treasury is 
authorized and directed to cause to be struck two gold medals with 
suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the 
Secretary of the Treasury. There are authorized to be appropriated 
not to exceed $18,500 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 
PUBLIC LAW 99-86—AUG. 9, 1985 
99 STAT. 289 
may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, includ-
ing labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, and 
the gold medals. The appropriation used to carry out the provisions 
of subsection (a) shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds of such 
sales. 
SEC. 2. The medals provided for in this Act are national medals for 
purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. 
3i use 5ioi 
et seq. 
Approved August 9, 1985. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 251: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): 
July 15, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 1, considered and passed Senate.