PUBLIC LAW 106-153—DEC. 9, 1999
113 STAT. 1733
Public Law 106-153
106th Congress
An Act
To authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress
to Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, in recognition of his outstanding and enduring
contributions to civil rights, higher education, the Catholic Church, the Nation,
and the global community.
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 "Father Theodore M. Hesburgh
Congressional Gold Medal Act".
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., has made outstanding and enduring contributions to American society
through his activities in civil rights, higher education, the
Catholic Church, the Nation, and the global community;
(2) Father Hesburgh was a charter member of the United
States Commission on Civil Rights from its creation in 1957
and served as chairperson of the Commission from 1969 to
1972;
(3) Father Hesburgh was president of the University of
Notre Dame from 1952 until 1987, and has been president
emeritus since 1987;
(4) Father Hesburgh is a national and international leader
in higher education;
(5) Father Hesburgh has been honored with the Elizabeth
Ann Seton Award from the National Catholic Education
Association and with more than 130 honorary degrees;
(6) Father Hesburgh served as co-chairperson of the nationally influential Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics
and as chairperson, from 1994 to 1996, of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University;
(7) Father Hesburgh served under President Ford as a
member of the Presidential Clemency Board, charged with
deciding the fates of persons committing offenses during the
Vietnam conflict;
(8) Father Hesburgh served as chairman of the board of
the Overseas Development Council and in that capacity led
fundraising efforts that averted mass starvation in Cambodia
in 1979 and 1980;
(9) Father Hesburgh served from 1979 to 1981 as chairperson of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee
Dec. 9, 1999
[H.R. 1932]
Father Theodore
M. Hesburgh
Congressional
Gold Medal Act.
31 USC 5111
note.
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