From the Office of Senator Kerry

Friday, October 17, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Senate today passed legislation posthumously awarding baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson with the Congressional Gold Medal. The bill (S. 300), sponsored by Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and cosponsored by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) was approved unanimously this afternoon.

In a speech delivered from the Senate floor, Kerry stated: “Jackie Robinson once said that, ‘a life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives.’ Jackie Robinson not only impacted lives, he impacted the very spirit of our country. He was more than a sports hero -- he was an American hero.

“And it is time for Congress to recognize his heroic contributions to the nation by awarding him the Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression of Congressional appreciation and has been bestowed on great citizens like George Washington, Winston Churchill and Rosa Parks. I cannot think of a more deserving person to join this distinguished group than Jackie Robinson.

“I would like to extend special thanks to Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig for his leadership on this very important issue.”

Said Senator McCain: “Jackie Robinson was an American hero who helped our nation be faithful to its ideals and principals. In the face of death threats and abuse, he played the game with the courage, grace and skill that earned him a place in baseball’s Hall of Fame and in American history. By helping to expand freedom for one group of Americans, he broadened the rights of all. It is my honor to be a co-sponsor of this legislation that bestows the highest civilian honor on a truly heroic American.”

Jackie Robinson broke the major league baseball color barrier in 1946 when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1947 and Most Valuable Player in 1949. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Through his courage on and off the field and during and after his career, he played a vital role in the civil rights movement. In 1997, Major League Baseball celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his rookie season by retiring his number, 42, in perpetuity – the first number to be retired league-wide.

Since 1776, there have been approximately 300 recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, including George Washington, Joe Louis, Mother Teresa, Winston Churchill, and Rosa Parks. The medals have allowed Congress to express public gratitude for distinguished contributions, dramatize the virtues of patriotism, and perpetuate the remembrance of great events.