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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