Speech #880012200

That there is hereby established a gold National Medal (hereinafter referred to as the "medal"). which shall be of such design and bear such inscriptions as the President. on the basis of recommendations submitted by the Secretary of the Treasury. may prescribe. and shall be awarded as provided in section 2 of this Act. SEC. 2. (a) There is hereby created a National Medal Advisory Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "commission"). consisting of five outstanding citizens to be selected by the President and who shall receive $75 per diem plus actual expenses while engaged in the work of the commission. (b) The President shall from time to time award the medal. on the basis of recommendations received by the Commission or on the basis of such other information and evidence as he deems appropriate. to individuals who in his judgment are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the general welfare of the Nation. However. no person shall be eligible for consideration for the award of the medal who (1) is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and is eligible to receive awards for outstanding military accomplishments. (2) is an officer or employee of the Government of the United States and is eligible to receive an award under the Government Employees Incentive Awards Act of 1954 (68 Stat. 1112). or (3) is eligible to receive the National Medal of Science under the Act of August 25. 1959 (73 Stat. 431). (c) Not more than three individuals shall be awarded the medal in any one calendar year. (d) No individual shall be awarded the medal unless at the time such award is made he(1) is a citizen or other national of the United States. or (2) is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who (A) has filed an application for petition for naturalization in the manner prescribed by section 334(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. and (B) is not permanently Ineligible to become a citizen of the United States. (e) The presentation of the awards shall be made by the President with such ceremonies as he may deem appropriate. SEc. 3. (a) Each medal shall be struck by the Bureau of the Mint and shall be considered a national medal under section 368 of title 31 of the United States Code and shall result in a cost of no more than $3.000 to the United States. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. (b) The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed. under such regulations as he may prescribe. to cause duplicates in bronze of each medal awarded under this Act to be struck and sold at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof (including labor).