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Congressional Gold Medal.com |
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Congressional Gold Medal Recipient
British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Britain's Prime Minister
Tony Blair leaves his official residence London's No. 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, June 25, 2003, to face Parliamentary question time at the House of Commons. (AP Photo/Chris Young/PA)
British Prime Minister Tony Blair addresses a Joint Session of Congress Thursday. July 18, 2003 STATEMENT BY THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY On Thursday, July 17, 2003, the President signed into law: S. 709, which provides for the production and presentation of a congressional gold medal to
British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Tony Blair has stood by President Bush over Iraq
This medal attempts to capture for historical keeping what most Americans already feel in their hearts: Tony Blair is a hero.
Representative Richard Baker Blair to Receive Congressional Gold Medal
Prime Minister Blair has gone beyond friendship to demonstrate true leadership for his nation and for Europe
Senator Elizabeth Dole WASHINGTON (AP) - The House agreed Wednesday to award the
Congressional Gold Medal to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, but only after lawmakers questioned the justification for the U.S. and British-led war on Iraq. The House resolution, passed by a voice vote, said Blair "has clearly demonstrated, during a very trying and historic time for our two countries, that he is a staunch and steadfast ally of the United States." Blair would be the first British leader to receive Congress' most prestigious award since
Winston Churchill was honored posthumously in 1969. The Senate already has approved giving Blair the medal. "There has probably been no British prime minister who has been there when America needs him more than Tony Blair," said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. But several House lawmakers noted that Blair, who stood with the United States through conflicts in Kosovo and Bosnia, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and the
Iraq War, is also under fire from the British parliament over the accuracy of the intelligence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, a key reason for the war. With the medal, Congress was "perhaps trying to influence the outcome of some very serious investigations going on in Britain," said Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., an opponent of the war. "We are trying to prop up Mr. Blair." Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said Blair should be given credit for accepting an investigation into prewar intelligence. "We should have the courage in our own country to give all the information to the American public." Since it was first given to
George Washington in 1776, the
Congressional Gold Medal has been bestowed on some 300 people, including
Thomas Edison,
Irving Berlin,
Bob Hope,
Billy Graham,
Mother Teresa and
Pope John Paul II.
S. 709 Text
5-14-03
Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 709
To award a congressional gold medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 26, 2003 Mrs. DOLE (for herself, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. CARPER, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. DEWINE, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. HAGEL, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LOTT, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. NICKLES, Mr. SCHUMER, Ms. STABENOW, and Mr. WARNER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
A BILL To award a congressional gold medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDING. Congress finds that Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom has clearly demonstrated, during a very trying and historic time for our 2 countries, that he is a staunch and steadfast ally of the United States of America. SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. (a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED- The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design, to Prime Minister Tony Blair, in recognition of his outstanding and enduring contributions to maintaining the security of all freedom-loving nations. (b) DESIGN AND STRIKING- For purposes of the presentation referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act 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, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal. SEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS. (a) NATIONAL MEDALS- The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. (b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS- For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE. (a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS- There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck pursuant to this Act. (b) PROCEEDS OF SALE- Amounts received from the sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund. END
Opening Statements of Committee Members
Opening Statement of Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL)
S.709 - A Bill to Award a Congressional Gold Medal to Prime Minister Tony Blair Wednesday, May 7, 2003, 10:00 a.m - Dirksen 538
WASHINGTON, D. C. As my colleagues are aware, the committee will take the opportunity of its being assembled this morning to take up and pass legislation to award the
Congressional Gold Medal to the
Prime Minister of Great Britain, the Honorable Tony Blair. This is not an honor that we take lightly. Throughout our history, only 17 foreign nationals have been so honored. Such individuals as
Simon Wiesenthal,
Mother Theresa,
Nelson Mandela, and
Pope John Paul II have been recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal. Today, we can add the name of Tony Blair. The price of greatness," Winston Churchill wrote, "is responsibility." Tony Blair has led his nation, against considerable political opposition, into the greatest and most tragic of human endeavors the act of war. In fact, since September 11, 2001, he has truly demonstrated heroism in shouldering enormous responsibility. In the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, sympathy and support for the United States, while certainly greatly appreciated, was nevertheless easy. Thousands of innocent lives suddenly and violently ended in an unprovoked attack cannot help but elicit such sympathy and support. Support for a cause that runs against the prevailing political winds on a matter of such gravity as the war against Iraq, however, demonstrated a degree of personal courage the likes of which is all too rare in politics. The leader of the Labor Party of Great Britain, at the potential cost of his political future, cast political calculations aside and acted with the strength and determination characteristic of his Conservative predecessor from an earlier era. It would have been relatively easy for Tony Blair to take a less difficult course. Great leaders, though, recognize those critical junctures when politics must take a back seat to the greater interests of the nation and the world. A recent article in the Financial Times summarized the prime minister's approach to important foreign policy issues as follows: "Deep inside he appears to believe that sometimes a leader needs to look at a situation not with reference to political exigencies, or even by the standards of the day, but as it will be judged on a higher plane at a later date." Out of his own moral center, Prime Minister Blair emerged as a steadfast and articulate advocate for the policy of removing the horribly brutal regime of Saddam Hussein from power. And I, for one, have absolutely no doubt as to his sincerity. I am still moved by his comment before the House of Commons as the British Parliament began its debate on the looming war in Iraq: "Tell our allies," the prime minister admonished, "that at the very moment of action, at the very moment when they need our determination that Britain faltered. I will not be a party to such a course. This is not the time to falter. And falter he did not. When the time for war had arrived, British soldiers once again stood side-by-side with our own. That is something many of us do not take lightly. It is easy to be a friend and ally in the absence of adversity. The sign of true friendship, though, is what happens when the true life and death decisions must be taken. Tony Blair proved himself a true a friend of this country, and to the cause of freedom.
Operation Iraqi Freedom was not the Second World War. It was, as such things go, a brief if violent culmination of a long process of sanctions and resolutions and Iraqi recalcitrance. It was, though, a defining moment in post-Cold War world history. The actions of Prime Minister Blair should be seen through that prism. And the presentation of the
Congressional Gold Medal honors that leadership. As another citizen of Great Britain, Edmund Burke, once noted, "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Tony Blair is a good man, and he deserves this honor.
Tony Blair to receive Ellis Island Medal of Honor for International Leadership British Information Services, 16 April 2003 Prime Minister Tony Blair will become the first non-American to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The medal had previously been presented only to outstanding Americans who had distinguished themselves as citizens of the United States. Past winners include former
President Ronald Reagan, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, Muhammad Ali and
Secretary of State Colin Powell. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay homage to the immigrant experience as well as individual achievement, and are awarded to people from various ethnic backgrounds. The Prime Minister is to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for International Leadership for his role in the war against terror. It is also the first year there is an award for international leadership. William Fugazy, chairman of the awards committee, told the BBC that the Prime Minister was selected for his steadfast support of America since the September 11 attacks in 2001. Under Tony Blairs leadership the relationship between the United States and Britain has been strengthened to the benefit of all nations, he said. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor Society was created in 1986 by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. The coalition itself was formed with the intention of encouraging cultural unity. It is the largest organization of its kind in the United States.
Born: May 6, 1953; Edinburgh, Scotland
Education: Graduated, St. John's College, Oxford, 1975
Military Service: None
Occupation: Barrister
Family: Wife, Cherie Booth who is a barrister and Queen's Counsel; 3 sons Euan, Nicky and Leo, and a daughter Kathryn.
Religion: Anglican
Early Years: Lived 3 years in Australia, mid-1950s; As college student, sang and played guitar with the band, Ugly Rumours; met wife, a fellow barrister, during first year of law apprenticeship, 1976.
Political Career: Joined Labour Party, 1975; Member of Parliament for Sedgefield, 1983-85; Spokesman on trade and industry, 1987-88; Shadow secretary of state for energy, 1988-89; Shadow secretary of state for employment, 1989-92; Shadow home secretary, member of National Executive Committee of Labour Party, 1992-94; Labour Party leader, 1994-; British Prime Minister, 1997-
Office: John Smith House, Walworth Road, LONDON SE17 1JT
Related Site:
Labour Party Home Page
Source: Newsmakers, 1996
Tony Blair was born Anthony Charles Lynton Blair on May 6, 1953, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He attended Fettes College in Edinburgh, and graduated from St. John's College, Oxford, in 1975. After graduation, Blair left London and briefly worked in Paris as a bartender and insurance clerk. Realizing he wanted to become a lawyer, he convinced a law firm to take him in as an apprentice in 1976. Like his father, he did become a lawyer, and specialized in employment and industrial law. In 1983, Blair won a newly created seat in Parliament representing the Sedgefield district, a northern coal mining region near his hometown of Durham. From 1989 to 1992 he was shadow home secretary and member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. In 1994, at 41, he became the Labour Party's youngest leader ever. Blair set out to modernize the Labour Party, to bring it back from a militant leftism toward the center of British politics. Blair set out to distance the Labour Party's relationship with the trade unions and reduce the number of unions in Britain and the power of their representatives in the party. He convinced the party to eliminate an antiquated clause in its constitution proposing a communist-inspired system of production, distribution and ownership and had it replaced with a more modern statement of objectives. His approach earned him the nickname of "The Modernizer." The "New Labour" is a term he coined for the reformed and modernized Labour Party. Blair holds both liberal and conservative views -- liberal on matters of education, welfare and technological change, but conservative on law and order issues and family values. Under Blair's leadership, the Labour Party's platform promotes a market economy; better education, with vocational training for teen-agers; elimination of long-term welfare; a European orientation; an English bill of rights and freedom-of-information act; an elected second chamber; a Welsh Assembly; a Scottish Parliament; and the restoration of a sense of community to the country. As Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister, Tony Blair has given new direction to the country and begun to build a better Britain with the introduction of a National Minimum Wage, one million more jobs, smaller class sizes in primary schools, and the biggest ever sustained investment in the NHS. Known for his youth, energy and glibness -- and his marriage to an opinionated lawyer -- people have compared Blair to U.S. president Bill Clinton.
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