Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act
This bill requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal commemorating the bravery and endurance of the 53 hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Following its award, the medal shall be given to the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution for display and research.
The Department of the Treasury must strike duplicate medals in silver for presentation to a hostage (or the personal representative of a deceased hostage), and Treasury may also strike and sell duplicate medals in bronze.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1179 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1179
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the former hostages of the Iran
Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981, highlighting their resilience throughout
the unprecedented ordeal which they lived through and the national
unity it produced, marking four decades since their 444 days in
captivity, and recognizing their sacrifice to our country.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2021
Mr. Suozzi (for himself, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Mooney, Mr. Kilmer, Mr.
Crenshaw, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Trone, Mr.
Westerman, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. Huffman) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in
addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the Budget, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the former hostages of the Iran
Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981, highlighting their resilience throughout
the unprecedented ordeal which they lived through and the national
unity it produced, marking four decades since their 444 days in
captivity, and recognizing their sacrifice to our country.
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 be cited as the ``Iran Hostages Congressional Gold
Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) On January 20, 1981, United States diplomats, military
personnel, and civilians were released after being held hostage
for 444 days by militant student supporters of Iran's Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini in a violation of international law. They
were taken from the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran, this
came to be known as the Iran Hostage Crisis.
(2) The hostages were subjected to intense physical and
psychological torture throughout their captivity, such as mock
execution, beatings, solitary confinement, and inhospitable
living conditions.
(3) Throughout their time held, they were routinely told to
denounce the United States, when they refused, they were
tortured, yet they remained strong in their spirit.
(4) One hostage wrote ``Viva la roja, blanco, y azul''
which translates to ``Long live the red, white, and blue'' on
the wall of his cell as a reminder of the values he swore to
protect.
(5) The hostages showed extraordinary courage by
continually engaging in acts of resistance against their
captors in the face of gross violations of their human rights,
such as refusing to sign condemnations of the United States.
(6) Many of the hostages still experience trauma as a
result of the events of the crisis and deserve to have their
suffering recognized.
(7) While 35 of the hostages are still living, it is
important that we reflect on their resilience and strength
which serve as an example to current generations. Let us
acknowledge them as heroes, who stood in positions of great
tribulation but who, for us, endured so that we may know the
blessing of being an American. Let us be more like them.
(8) On January 22, 1981, President Jimmy Carter met with
the hostages in West Germany and stated, ``One of the acts in
my life which has been the most moving and gratifying in
meeting with and discussing the future and the past with the
now liberated Americans who were held hostage in Iran for so
long. I pointed out to them that, since their capture by the
Iranian terrorists and their being held in this despicable act
of savagery, that the American people's hearts have gone out to
them and the nation has been united as perhaps never before in
history and that the prayers that have gone up from the people
throughout the world to God for their safety have finally been
answered.''.
(9) On January 28, 1981, when welcoming the hostages home,
President Ronald Reagan stated, ``You`ve come home to a people
who for 444 days suffered the pain of your imprisonment, prayed
for your safety, and most importantly, shared your
determination that the spirit of free men and women is not a
fit subject for barter. You've represented under great stress
the highest traditions of public service. Your conduct is
symbolic of the millions of professional diplomats, military
personnel, and others who have rendered service to their
country.''.
(10) During the 444 days the brave Americans were held, the
rest of the country held its breath, waiting for news of the
hostages. The country hoped and prayed together, as one, for
the hostages' safe return.
(11) United States Ambassador to Iran from 1979 to 1980
Bruce Laingen, the highest ranking diplomat held hostage,
summed up the experience by saying ``Fifty-three Americans who
will always have a love affair with this country and who join
with you in a prayer of thanksgiving for the way in which this
crisis has strengthened the spirit and resilience and strength
that is the mark of a truly free society.''. It is now our
responsibility to honor the spirit, resilience, and strength
that the hostages displayed during their 444 days of
imprisonment.
(12) Now, more than four decades later, we continue to
honor the hostages. The recipients of this award are heroes in
every sense of the word. They are role models that wore their
American pride with esteem and have allowed for subsequent
generations to appreciate the blessing of being an American.
Today, as we prepare to mark 40 years after their release, we
acknowledge their endurance, strength, and contributions to
seeing a more peaceful world. They suffered for America and now
it is our duty to recognize them for it.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION.
In this Act, the term ``hostage'' means an American that was taken
captive on November 4, 1979, in Tehran, Iran, at the United States
embassy and released on--
(1) July 11, 1980; or
(2) January 20, 1981.
SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives
and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate
arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold
medal of appropriate design to the 53 hostages of the Iran Hostage
Crisis, in recognition of their bravery and endurance throughout their
captivity which started on November 4, 1979, and lasted until January
21, 1981.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award 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.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal
under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the
National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian
Institution, where it shall be available for display as
appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received
under paragraph (1) available for loan, as appropriate, so that
the medal may be displayed elsewhere.
SEC. 5. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
(a) Silver Duplicate Medals.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall strike duplicates in
silver of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 4 to be
awarded in accordance with paragraph.
(2) Eligibility for award.--
(A) In general.--A hostage shall be eligible to be
awarded a silver duplicate medal struck under paragraph
(1) in recognition of the endurance of the Iran
Hostages.
(B) Death of a hostage.--In the event of the death
of a hostage who has not been awarded a silver
duplicate medal under this subsection, the Secretary
may award a silver duplicate medal to the next of kin
or other personal representative of the hostage.
(b) Bronze Duplicate Medals.--The Secretary may strike and sell
duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 4
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 and
silver medals.
SEC. 6. 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 section 5134 of title 31,
United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 7. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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