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 accomplishments as a priest, a chaplain, and a humanitarian.
PL 106-175 (H.R.3557), enacted 03/05/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-175—MAK. 5, 2000 
114 STAT. 21 
Public Law 106-175 
106th Congress 
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- 
Mar. 5, 2000 
plishments as a priest, a chaplain, and a humanitarian. 
[H R 35571 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
31USC 5111 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) His Eminence John Cardinal O'Connor is a man of 
deep compassion, great intellect, and tii'eless 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 ser/ed as chaplain of the 
United States Naval Academy and wa.s appointed as Chief 
of Chaplains of the Navy with the girade of rear admiral, 
from which position he retired four years later, in May 1979. 
He was ordained a Bishop by Pope John Paul H 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 unwaver-
ing commitment to public and parochiali school education. He 
has supported and strengthened Catholic schools in their mis-
sion to provide a quality education to students of all races, 
ethnic backgrounds, and religions in the Archdiocese 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 iMDS-only unit at St. 
Claire's Hospital, remaining a frequent visitor and volunteer 
at the hospital. 
note. 
114 STAT. 22 
PUBLIC LAW 106-175—MAR. 5, 2000 
* 
(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. DUPUCATE 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. 
(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. 
Approved March 5, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3557: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
Feb. 15, considered and passed House. 
Mar. 1, considered and passed Senate.