[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2784 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.2784
One Hundred Ninth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and six
An Act
To award a congressional gold medal to Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth
Dalai Lama, in recognition of his many enduring and outstanding
contributions to peace, non-violence, human rights, and religious
understanding.
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 cited as the ``Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional
Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama--
(1) is recognized in the United States and throughout the world
as a leading figure of moral and religious authority;
(2) is the unrivaled spiritual and cultural leader of the
Tibetan people, and has used his leadership to promote democracy,
freedom, and peace for the Tibetan people through a negotiated
settlement of the Tibet issue, based on autonomy within the
People's Republic of China;
(3) has led the effort to preserve the rich cultural,
religious, and linguistic heritage of the Tibetan people and to
promote the safeguarding of other endangered cultures throughout
the world;
(4) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his efforts
to promote peace and non-violence throughout the globe, and to find
democratic reconciliation for the Tibetan people through his
``Middle Way'' approach;
(5) has significantly advanced the goal of greater
understanding, tolerance, harmony, and respect among the different
religious faiths of the world through interfaith dialogue and
outreach to other religious leaders; and
(6) has used his moral authority to promote the concept of
universal responsibility as a guiding tenet for how human beings
should treat one another and the planet we share.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the
Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design, to Tenzin Gyatso, the
Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in recognition of his many enduring
contributions to peace and religious understanding.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in
this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a gold medal with suitable
emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 3 under 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. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States
Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be
charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such
amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck
pursuant to this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of duplicate
bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be deposited into the
United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.