#aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bfeb ,,an ,,act ,to award a ,congressional ,gold ,medal to ,stephen ,michael ,gleason4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,stephen ,michael ,gleason ,congressional ,gold ,medal ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,stephen ,steve ,gleason was born ,march #ai1 #aigg1 in ,spokane1 ,washington to ,mike and ,gail ,gleason4 7#b7 ,steve attended ,gonzaga ,preparatory ,school for high school where he excelled as both a football and baseball player4 7#c7 ,in #aiie1 ,steve enrolled at ,washington ,state ,university where he was a #b-sport athlete for the baseball and football teams and helped the ,cougars football team advance to the #aiig ,rose ,bowl4 7#d7 ,in #bjjj1 ,steve signed a professional football contract with the ,indianapolis ,colts of the ,national ,football ,league as an undrafted free agent but later joined the ,new ,orleans ,saints in ,november of that same season4 7#e7 ,steve would go on to play #g more seasons as a member of the ,new ,orleans ,saints4 7#f7 ,steve will always be remembered for his blocked punt on ,september #be1 #bjjf1 against the ,atlanta ,falcons1 the night the ,louisiana ,superdome reopened for the first time after ,hurricane ,katrina in a game the ,saints would win #bc to #c4 7#g7 ,in ,january1 #bjaa ,steve was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ,,als1 considered a terminal neuro-muscular disease4 7#h7 ,following his diagnosis1 ,steve1 with the loving support of his wife1 ,michel1 began a mission to show that patients can not only live but thrive after a diagnosis of ,,als and established ,the ,gleason ,initiative ,foundation also known simply as ,team ,gleason4 7#i7 ,at the time of his diagnosis1 however1 ,steve said there will be ,no ,white ,flags1 which has become the mantra of ,team ,gleason4 7#aj7 ,the ,gleason ,initiative ,foundation helps provide individuals with neuromuscular diseases or injuries with leading edge technology1 equipment and services1 raises global awareness about ,,als to find solutions and an end to the disease1 and has helped hundreds of people with ,,als experience life adventures they never thought possible after their diagnosis4 7#aa7 ,steve's story and mission have been told by the ,,nfl ,network1 ,,espn1 ,,hbo1 ,,abc1 ,,cbs1 ,,cnn1 and many local media outlets1 as well as in a #bjaf documentary titled ,gleason1 which was heralded at the ,sundance ,film ,festival and premiered across the country with ,variety calling the production an emotional powerhouse4 ,the documentary won several awards1 including the #bjaf ,washington1 ,d4,c4 ,area ,film ,critics ,association ,award for ,best ,documentary4 7#ab7 ,steve was named one of two ,sports ,illustrated's ,inspirations of the ,year in #bjad1 has been a keynote speaker for ,microsoft and at two ,united ,nations sponsored ,social ,innovation ,summits1 and received the #bjae ,george ,s4 ,halas ,courage ,award1 given to a ,,nfl player1 coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed4 7#ac7 ,steve helped advocate for the ,steve ,gleason ,act of #bjae 7,public ,law #aad-dj2 #abi ,stat4 #dda71 and the ,steve ,gleason ,enduring ,voices ,act of #bjag1 ,h4,r4 #bdfe1 #aaeth ,congress 7#bjag71 which permanently ensures people living with diseases such ,,als have access to speech generating devices regardless of their setting1 whether at home or a healthcare institution4 7#ad7 ,in #bjad1 ,steve and ,team ,gleason hosted a global summit to bring together researchers1 patients1 caregivers1 and all ,,als stakeholders to create a plan to ultimately end ,,als4 ,that summit resulted in the single largest coordinated and collaborative ,,als research project in the world1 ,answer ,,als1 which brings together nearly two dozen research institutions1 #a1jjj patients and #bj1jjj1jjj1jjj1jjj data points that are important to the project and that will define the unknown pathways that will lead to treatments or finally a cure4 7#ae7 ,in #bjae1 ,steve and ,microsoft worked together to create a method for people who are completely paralyzed to navigate their power wheelchairs with their eyes4 ,today1 ,steve1 ,microsoft and all wheelchair manufacturers are working collaboratively to make it widely available to all who need this technology4 ,in addition1 ,microsoft has also made eye tracking technology part of all ,windows #aj products across the globe4 7#af7 ,in #bjaa1 #aj months after his diagnosis1 ,steve and ,michel made their most significant accomplishment1 becoming parents to their son ,rivers4 7#ag7 ,steve and ,michel ,gleason continue to fight to find a solution for ,,als so they can share many years together and as parents to ,rivers4 #c4 ,congressional ,gold ,medal 7a7 ,award authorized ,the ,speaker of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,president pro tempore of the ,senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award1 on behalf of the ,congress1 of a single gold medal of appropriate design to ,stephen ,michael ,gleason4 7b7 ,design and striking ,for the purposes of the award referred to in subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of the ,treasury 7hereafter in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary7 shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems1 devices1 and inscriptions1 to be determined by the ,secretary4 #d4 ,duplicate medals ,under such regulations as the ,secretary may prescribe1 the ,secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section #c1 at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals1 including labor1 materials1 dies1 use of machinery1 and overhead expenses4 #e4 ,status of medals ,medals struck pursuant to this ,act are national medals for purposes of chapter #ea of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 ,passed the ,senate ,june #ad1 #bjah4,secretary