Volume 83 · 124
Public Law 91–76
To authorize the President to award, in the name of Congress, Congressional Space Medals of Honor to those astronauts whose particular efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and of mankind have been exceptionally meritorious.
Approved September 29, 1969
Statutory text
JOINT RESOLUTION
To authorize the President to award, in the name of Congress, Congressional Space Medals of Honor to those astronauts whose particular efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and of mankind have been exceptionally meritorious.
Whereas the United States has established and maintains a highly successful manned space flight program, dedicated to the peaceful exploration of space for the benefit of all mankind: and
Whereas the full strength of America’s political, industrial, and technological capacity has been effectively teamed to create and support that program, but it cannot be carried out without the intelligence, the dedication, the bravery, and the self-sacrifice of the astronauts who test the hardware and who fly the missions into the hostile environment of space; and
Whereas the United States in its moments of triumph over the success of its space exploration must not forget those brave astronauts who have given their lives in the fullest measure of man’s dedication to space exploration: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of appropriate design, which shall be known as the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, to any astronaut who in the performance of his duties has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and of mankind.
Sec. 2.
There is authorized to be appropriated from time to time such sums of money as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this joint resolution.
Approved September 29, 1969.