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[DOCID: f:h1565ih.txt]






                                    


107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1565

           To award a congressional gold medal to Brian Lamb.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 24, 2001

  Mr. LaHood introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
           To award a congressional gold medal to Brian Lamb.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) C-SPAN, C-SPAN II, C-SPAN III, C-SPAN.org, and C-SPAN 
        Radio, the cable networks, Internet site, and radio station 
        dedicated to gavel-to-gavel coverage of the United States House 
        of Representatives and the United States Senate, as well as 
        educational programming about our Nation's history and 
        politics, have had a profound positive impact upon the 
        knowledge and awareness among our citizens of our democracy 
        about the law-making process and government at all levels.
            (2) Through the coverage of C-SPAN, C-SPAN II, C-SPAN III, 
        C-SPAN.org, and C-SPAN Radio, educators, students, and 
        concerned citizens have had the opportunity to watch the 
        Nation's leaders engage in historic debates, address issues 
        that impact all Americans, and been made aware of the 
        importance of the Congress in our democracy.
            (3) The 80,000,000 households which receive C-SPAN have a 
        window on the legislative process that is unbiased and 
        comprehensive.
            (4) C-SPAN programming such as the C-SPAN School Bus, 
        Booknotes, C-SPAN Radio, and Washington Journal have 
        significantly enriched the level of political discourse and 
        understanding in our Nation.
            (5) C-SPAN provides a unique and valuable contribution to 
        coverage of the American political process that has no peer.
            (6) This public service known as C-SPAN came about due to 
        the vision, dedication, and interest of Brian Lamb.
            (7) Brian Lamb's efforts have resulted in C-SPAN reaching 
        over 80,000,000 households, and becoming an indispensable 
        political resource for political leaders, students, and 
        interested political leaders.
            (8) Due to the hard work and perseverance of Brian Lamb, 
        the innovative programming concept of C-SPAN was developed 
        almost 25 years ago.
            (9) C-SPAN has become a fixture of the American political 
        scene and has so impacted American politics that it is 
        difficult to conceive of American political life without C-
        SPAN.
            (10) It is appropriate and fitting that Brian Lamb be 
        awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for establishing C-SPAN, 
        C-SPAN II, C-SPAN III, C-SPAN.org, and C-SPAN Radio as the 
        network of record for American political life.
            (11) Brian Lamb's vision, leadership, conviction and 
        commitment to public understanding of the Congress, the law-
        making process, important and timely political issues, and 
        government generally, demonstrate that he is worthy of the 
        appreciation of the American people as expressed through 
        awarding Brian Lamb the Congressional Gold Medal.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

    (a) Presentation Authorized.--The President is authorized to award 
to Brian Lamb, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate 
design honoring Brian Lamb in recognition of his contributions to the 
Nation.
    (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to 
in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (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. 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, and at a price sufficient to cover the costs 
thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and 
overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.

SEC. 4. STATUS AS NATIONAL MEDALS.

    The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for 
purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

SEC. 5. FUNDING.

    (a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is 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.
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