[Pages H3374-H3376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

{time} 1615
WORKING DOG COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 807) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins
in commemoration of the invaluable service that working dogs provide to
society, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 807

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 ``Working Dog Commemorative
Coin Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) Dogs going back thousands of years have been tied to
humans whether for protection, companionship, or assisting in
daily activities.
(2) The United States had an unofficial canine military
presence assisting soldiers in the Civil War and World War I,
but military K-9s did not become officially recognized until
March 13, 1942. During the height of the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq it is estimated that the United States military
employed near 2,500 K-9s.
(3) Military K-9s have seen service in every major United
States combat since World War I and have been praised by
military leadership as an indispensable asset for military,
police, government, and private security teams around the
world.
(4) In 2000, Congress passed ``Robby's Law'' which allowed
for the adoption of military K-9s by law enforcement
agencies, former handlers, and other care groups.
(5) Since 2000, military K-9s have left service and gone
onto work explosive detection for police forces, and work as
service dogs for veterans and families.
(6) Beyond their military working capacity, working dogs
provide enhanced mobility assist and renewed independence for
the injured and disabled. Service dogs are able to support
veterans struggling after war, hear for those who are deaf,
see for those who are blind, and even sense changes in a
person's body before a seizure. Working dogs play a vital
role in improving the lives of many.
(7) The service dog programs of America's VetDogs were
created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence
to United States veterans, active-duty service members, and
first responders with disabilities.
(8) America's VetDogs provides--
(A) guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low
vision;
(B) hearing dogs for those who have lost their hearing
later in life by alerting to alarms, door bells, sirens, and
more;
(C) service dogs for those with other physical disabilities
that are specially trained to provide balance, retrieve
dropped items, open and close doors, turn on and off lights,
carry a backpack, and more;
(D) facility dogs which are specially trained to spend time
working with wounded veterans recovering at military
hospitals and veterans medical centers;
(E) dogs that work with physical and occupational
therapists as they treat soldiers and become an essential
part of the healing process; and
(F) PTSD service dogs that are trained to help mitigate the
symptoms of PTSD by providing the emotional and physical
support a veteran may need.

SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

(a) Denominations.--The Secretary of the Treasury
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'')
shall mint and issue the following coins in commemoration of
the invaluable service that working dogs provide to society.
(1) $5 gold coins.--Not more than 50,000 $5 coins, which
shall--
(A) weigh 8.359 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
(C) contain 90 percent gold.
(2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 500,000 $1 coins, which
shall--
(A) weigh 26.73 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(C) contain not less than 90 percent silver.
(3) Half-dollar clad coins.--Not more than 750,000 half-
dollar coins which shall--
(A) weigh 11.34 grams;
(B) be struck on a planchet having a diameter of 1.205
inches; and
(C) be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins
contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be
legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United
States Code.
(c) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and
5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under
this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

SEC. 4. DESIGNS OF COINS.

(a) Design Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The designs of the coins minted under this
Act shall be emblematic of the vast contributions that
working dogs serve in society to include the range of
services that these dogs provide in detection, military
service, therapy and assistance.
(2) Designs and inscriptions.--On each coin minted under
this Act, there shall be--
(A) a designation of the value of the coin;
(B) an inscription of the year ``2027''; and
(C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We
Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus
Unum''.
(b) Selection.--The designs for the coins minted under this
Act shall be--
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with--
(A) America's VetDogs; and
(B) the Commission of Fine Arts; and
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.

(a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be
issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Mint Facility.--Only 1 facility of the United States
Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the
coins minted under this Act.
(c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins
minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning
on January 1, 2027.

SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.

(a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under this Act shall be
sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
(1) the face value of the coins;
(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to
such coins; and
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses,
marketing, and shipping).
(b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the
coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid Orders.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders
for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of
such coins.
(2) Discount.--Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders
under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.

SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.

(a) In General.--All sales of coins issued under this Act
shall include a surcharge of--
(1) $35 per coin for the $5 coin;
(2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin; and
(3) $5 per coin for the half-dollar coin.
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f)(1) of title
31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the
Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall
be promptly paid by the Secretary to America's VetDogs for
application to general expenses associated with the
fulfillment of the mission of America's VetDogs, including
for costs associated with--
(1) personnel related to training, dog care, and consumer
needs;
(2) consultants to facilitate the training of America's
VetDogs Certified Service Dog Instructors; and
(3) travel, room and board for clients served by America's
VetDogs.
(c) Audits.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall have the right to examine such books, records,
documents, and other data of each of the organizations
referred to in subsection (b) as may be related to the
expenditures of amounts paid under that subsection.
(d) Limitation.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), no
surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under
this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the
time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result
in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during
such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program
issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31,
United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment
of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue
guidance to carry out this subsection.

[[Page H3375]]

SEC. 8. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.

The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary
to ensure that--
(1) minting and issuing coins under this Act will not
result in any net cost to the United States Government; and
(2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, are
disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the
total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins
authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use
of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is
recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with
sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.

SEC. 9. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

(a) Statutory PAYGO Scorecards.--The budgetary effects of
this section shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard
maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-
You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(d)).
(b) Senate PAYGO Scorecards.--The budgetary effects of this
section shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard
maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71
(115th Congress).

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Foster) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.

General Leave

Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 807, the Working Dog
Commemorative Coin Act, a bill which I am honored to have introduced
along with the gentleman from Worcester, Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern),
the ranking member of the Rules Committee.
My good friend and I introduced this bill this Congress, H.R. 807,
better known as the dog coin bill in the Halls of Congress. It has been
a project that both I and my staff have been passionate about since I
introduced this bill last Congress.
This legislation not only honors those service dogs, but the working
dogs who protect Americans at home and abroad. Most of us passed a
working dog when we came through security today here in Congress. They
are so embedded in our daily lives here on Capitol Hill that we often
pass them without notice.
Since I introduced this bill last Congress, I think we have been
noticing these working dogs everywhere we go. I am grateful to have
gained this new appreciation myself. However, this newfound awareness
did not come from merely introducing a piece of legislation. It came
from spending time with extraordinary people that benefit from the work
of America's VetDogs, and I would like to briefly highlight a few of
them.
U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Christopher Sunday was medically retired
in 2011 due to injuries sustained in combat after leading missions
during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He
returned home and struggled, like many veterans, with post-traumatic
stress disorder, PTSD.
Fortunately, in 2021, Chris was matched with his PTSD-trained service
canine named Eddie. Chris said about his new companion: Eddie helped me
find my independence again. I was able to finish my doctorate and
become a mental health director to help incarcerated individuals
because of my service dog.
Navy Corpsman Joe Worley is a familiar face on Capitol Hill,
traveling from office to office with his service dog, Galaxie. In 2004,
as his medical convoy was headed back to his base in Fallujah, Iraq,
the first vehicle in the convoy hit an improvised explosive device.
Worley jumped out to help his wounded comrades, ran a few yards and was
hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. It did not explode, but it took off
his left leg. He was then shot six times. For his actions, he was
awarded the Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart.
Since these injuries, Joe has been paired with two separate service
dogs. He has also joined America's VetDogs full-time as its veteran
liaison, and what a great job he does.
Finally, Corpsman Paul Sullivan sat down in my office and told me
about his work as a first responder in Anne Arundel County. He
explained how his service dog, Sal, helped him escape the night terrors
triggered by PTSD. He described Sal as his dream catcher, allowing him
to sleep again and go about his daily life.
I thank America's VetDogs team for their relentless work to get this
bill to the floor today; Deana Stone, who herself spent 20 years in the
U.S. Air Force; John Miller; Bonnie Singer; Trey Matchin; and the
countless volunteers and puppy handlers who knocked on every single
door on the House and Senate sides of the Capitol. Their impact is
evident today because of the cosponsors we have on this bill and the
support we have for this bill.
For a commemorative coin or a Congressional Gold Medal to come to the
floor, it must receive 290 cosponsors. Gaining that many signatures is
no easy task, but those individuals worked so hard to spread the word
that this is more than just a coin bill. This is a bill that will
improve the quality of life for our wounded veterans and first
responders, something we can all get behind.
Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McGovern for his partnership.
His work on H.R. 807, as well as his previous work to permanently
authorize the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program, is the perfect
example of bipartisan collaboration to prioritize the treatment and
care of wounded veterans, and this bill will help enable the treatment
and care of our wounded veterans and to honor the service dogs who are
among us.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 807, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 807, the Working Dog
Commemorative Coin Act, sponsored by Representative McHenry.
This bill, introduced by Representative McHenry and Representative
McGovern, will require the U.S. Treasury and Mint to develop a coin
series honoring the critical role that working dogs play in our
society.
For decades, working service dogs have provided a range of services,
from detection, military service, therapy, assistance, and mobility to
Active-Duty servicemembers and first responders with disabilities.
Their work and companionship have brought immeasurable growth and
healing for veterans and others with disabilities.
As the number of service dogs given to veterans with disabilities and
PTSD continues to increase, this bill is an important step in giving
these loyal and hardworking service dogs the love and the recognition
that they deserve.
I thank Representative McHenry and Representative McGovern, two
ideological compadres if there ever were such, for their bipartisan
work on this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I am personally proud to be a cosponsor of this
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it today, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Self), my friend.
Mr. SELF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the Working Dog
Commemorative Coin Act.
This bill honors the important role that working and service dogs
play in the lives of Americans, one of whom is a constituent of mine,
Special Operator Jason Morgan.
Jason's story is absolutely incredible. He was found face down in a
swamp in Central America after a mission went wrong. He had a shattered
spine, collapsed lungs, and numerous broken bones. It was a miracle he
even survived.
After waking up from a coma that lasted for months, doctors told him
he would never walk again. He then went through many painful surgeries,
with his life hanging by a thread many times.
When he finally left the hospital, he was in a wheelchair and had
memory loss. His life seemed to be falling apart. He was left to care
for his three young sons on his own. Everything changed when Jason met
Napal, a black Labrador Retriever.

[[Page H3376]]

With Napal by his side, Jason's life and his family's life changed
completely. Napal helped Jason overcome his paralysis. Jason completed
a marathon and won awards and medals in the Wounded Warrior Games. More
than that, this amazing service dog helped heal Jason's family and
taught him how to be the father his kids needed.
I have personally seen Napal many times steal the show with his
personality and his love of life and his dedication to service. Napal's
tour of duty has now been completed, and Yago has taken up his duties.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Madam Speaker, as we thank our veterans and Active-Duty military
servicemembers, we must not forget the crucial role that service dogs
play on and off the battlefield. As a scientist, I note that in a
recent study conducted on veterans with service dogs, veterans with
service dog companions had stress hormones more like those in healthy
adults without PTSD than veterans without service dogs.
Promoting the health and mental well-being of our veterans is both a
collective and an individual endeavor. This legislation furthers those
efforts and ensures that we recognize the important role that service
dogs play in protecting our Nation, its Active-Duty servicemembers, and
our veterans.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Madam Speaker, I reiterate how important this bill is. Congress can
direct the Mint to strike a coin, and the proceeds of the sale of that
coin can benefit society in a large-scale fashion. We have a threshold
in Congress that says there has to be 290 cosponsors for a bill to do
that. It has to have wide bipartisan support, and it has to be in the
greater interests of the country if we are going to do this because it
is a constitutional function where Congress steps in and directs the
Mint to create a coin. Then we can direct the proceeds to actually help
important nonprofits in this country.
When we have a group like America's VetDogs, they do such important
work, and they have shown the societal benefit of what they have done.
For us to act today to acknowledge the role of service dogs and then
get the benefit back into this community to help veterans suffering
with PTSD and for us to have service dogs available across the country
is a very special thing.
As I said, it took a lot of work, and Members of Congress are people,
too. Madam Speaker, we often don't acknowledge that, but we are people,
too. We are emotional, too. Things get really emotional here on Capitol
Hill, and the way to bring down emotion just a little bit is to have a
little, good boy come by and wag their tail at you and ask to have just
a little pet. Those are the dogs, the service animals, that are around
on Capitol Hill.
Madam Speaker, we have some service dogs that are in the gallery
today watching what is happening here. I think because they are here it
has been a little less emotional. We have actually been a little more
balanced in how we have debated, and so, even if they are just wagging
their tails in the gallery, it brings a sense of calm to us as
policymakers.
It has been a welcome thing to have those service dogs around the
Capitol complex driving up cosponsorship, but it couldn't be done
without the good work of staff.
From my staff, I thank my good friend, Phil Poe, who has worked with
me for nearly a decade here in D.C. It has been the work of Phil to
direct this whole process and to get the cosponsors and work with other
offices to show interest. Without that definitive work, we would not be
here today with the cosponsorship we have here.
I finish by acknowledging the important work of Phil Poe in bringing
this bill to the House floor. I thank my colleagues for that indulgence
to thank staff because the staff are what make this operation actually
work. We can never thank them enough for the input that they make into
law, the dedication they have to our constitutional republic, and to
the American people.
Phil is one of the finest in the business, and I thank Phil for his
good work.
Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this important bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.

{time} 1630

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 807, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________