[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2440 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2440
To provide for commemoration of the victory of freedom in the Cold War.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 1, 1999
Mr. Lazio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for commemoration of the victory of freedom in the Cold War.
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 ``Commemoration of the Victory of
Freedom in the Cold War Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMEMORATION OF THE VICTORY OF FREEDOM IN THE COLD WAR.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Cold War between the United States and the former
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was the longest and most
costly struggle for democracy and freedom in the history of
mankind.
(2) Whether millions of people all over the world would
live in freedom hinged on the outcome of the Cold War.
(3) Democratic countries bore the burden of the struggle
and paid the costs in order to preserve and promote democracy
and freedom.
(4) The Armed Forces and the taxpayers of the United States
bore the greatest portion of such a burden and struggle in
order to protect such principles.
(5) Tens of thousands of United States soldiers, sailors,
Marines, and airmen paid the ultimate price during the Cold War
in order to preserve the freedoms and liberties enjoyed in
democratic countries.
(6) The Berlin Wall erected in Berlin, Germany, epitomized
the totalitarianism that the United States struggled to
eradicate during the Cold War.
(7) The end of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on
December 26, 1991, marked the end for Soviet totalitarianism,
and thus the end of the Cold War.
(8) December 26, 2001, is the 10th anniversary of the fall
of the Soviet Union.
(b) Cold War Medal.--(1) Chapter 57 of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1133. Cold War medal: award
``(a) Award.--There is hereby authorized an award of an appropriate
decoration, as provided for under subsection (b), to each person who
served honorably in the armed forces during the Cold War in order to
recognize the contributions of those person to United States victory in
the Cold War.
``(b) Design.--The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall,
under regulations prescribed by the President, design for purposes of
this section a decoration called the `Reagan-Truman Victory in the Cold
War Medal'. The decoration shall be of appropriate design, with ribbons
and appurtenances.
``(c) Period of Cold War.--In this section, the term `Cold War'
shall mean the period beginning on September 2, 1945, and ending on
December 26, 1991.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``1133. Cold War medal: award.''.
(c) Participation of Armed Forces in Celebration of Anniversary of
End of Cold War.--(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), amounts
appropriated for operation and maintenance for the Army shall be
available for the purpose of covering the costs of the Armed Forces in
participating in a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the end of
the Cold War to be held in Washington, District of Columbia, on
December 26, 2001.
(2) The total amount of funds available under paragraph (1) for the
purpose stated in that paragraph may not exceed $15,000,000.
(3)(A) The Secretary of Defense may accept contributions from the
private sector for the purpose of reducing the costs of the Armed
Forces described in paragraph (1).
(B) The amount of funds available under paragraph (1) for the
purpose set forth in that paragraph shall be reduced by an amount equal
to the amount of contributions accepted by the Secretary under
subparagraph (A).
(d) Commission on Victory in the Cold War.--(1) There is hereby
established a commission to be known as the ``Commission on Victory in
the Cold War'' (in this subsection to be referred to as the
``Commission'').
(2) The Commission shall be composed of twelve members, as follows:
(A) Two shall be appointed by the President.
(B) Three shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
(C) Three shall be appointed by the majority leader of the
Senate.
(D) Two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives.
(E) Two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
Senate.
(3) The Commission shall have as its duty the review of the
expenditure of funds by the Armed Forces under subsection (c) before
the participation of the Armed Forces in the celebration referred to in
paragraph (1) of that subsection, whether such funds are derived from
funds of the United States or from amounts contributed by the private
sector under paragraph (3)(A) of that subsection.
(4) In addition to the duties provided for under paragraph (3), the
Commission shall also have the authority to design and award medals and
decorations to current and former public officials and other
individuals whose efforts were vital to United States victory in the
Cold War.
(5) The Commission shall be chaired by two individuals as follows:
(A) One selected by and from among those appointed pursuant
to subparagraphs (A), (D), and (E) of paragraph (2).
(B) One selected by and from among those appointed pursuant
to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2).
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