This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the posthumous presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to Larry Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major league athletics, civil rights, and the Armed Forces during World War II.
[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5621 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5621
To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene
``Larry'' Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to
American major league athletics, civil rights, and the Armed Forces
during WWII.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 5, 2016
Mr. Pascrell (for himself, Mr. Renacci, Mr. Capuano, Mr. Butterfield,
Mr. Ryan of Ohio, and Mr. Carson of Indiana) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene
``Larry'' Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to
American major league athletics, civil rights, and the Armed Forces
during WWII.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Larry Doby was born in Camden, South Carolina, on
December 12, 1923, and moved to Paterson, New Jersey, in 1938,
where he became a standout four sport athlete at Paterson
Eastside High School.
(2) Larry Doby attended Long Island University on a
basketball scholarship before enlisting in the United States
Navy during WWII.
(3) Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946,
Larry Doby played baseball in the Negro League for the Newark
Eagles. After playing the 1946 season, Larry Doby's contract
was purchased by the Cleveland Indians of the American League
on July 3, 1947.
(4) On July 5, 1947, Larry Doby became the first African-
American to play in the American League.
(5) Larry Doby played in the American League for 13 years,
appearing in 1,533 games and batting .283, with 253 home runs
and 969 runs batted in.
(6) Larry Doby was voted to seven all-star teams, led the
American League in home runs twice, and played in two World
Series; he was the first African-American to play in the World
Series and to hit a home run in a World Series game, both in
1948.
(7) After his stellar playing career ended, Larry Doby
continued to make a significant contribution to his community;
he has been a pioneer in the cause of civil rights and has
received honorary doctorate degrees from Long Island
University, Princeton University, and Fairfield University.
(8) In 1978, Larry Doby became the manager of the Chicago
White Sox, only the second African-American manager of a Major
League team.
(9) Larry Doby was the Director of Community Relations for
the National Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets, where he
was deeply involved in a number of inner-city youth programs.
(10) Larry Doby was elected to the National Baseball Hall
of Fame in 1998.
SEC. 2. 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 posthumous presentation, on behalf of
Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design, to Larry Doby in
recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major
league athletics, civil rights and the Armed Forces during WWII.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the presentation
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury
(hereinafter 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.
(c) Transfer of Medal After Presentation.--Following the
presentation of the gold medal in honor of Larry Doby under subsection
(a), the gold medal shall be given to his son, Larry Doby, Jr.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold
medal struck pursuant to section 2 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. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck under 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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
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