[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 951 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 951
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration
of the continual recognition of the Nation's semiquincentennial by
honoring over 250 years of Americans' service and sacrifice.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2025
Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Mr. Hill of Arkansas, and Mrs. Watson
Coleman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration
of the continual recognition of the Nation's semiquincentennial by
honoring over 250 years of Americans' service and sacrifice.
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 ``250 Years of Service and Sacrifice
Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) July 4, 1776, marks the historic date when the
unanimous Declaration of Independence was adopted, establishing
the thirteen United States of America as a free and independent
nation.
(2) July 4, 2026, will commemorate the 250th anniversary of
the Nation's declaration of independence.
(3) It is a long-standing tradition to honor significant
milestones in American history through the minting of
commemorative coins.
(4) The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
exemplifies the principles of service and sacrifice that have
defined the Nation for more than 250 years by providing
financial support, housing assistance, and educational
opportunities to Gold Star families, first responders,
veterans, and their families, honoring the bravery and
dedication of those who serve.
(5) First responders have played a vital role in
safeguarding American lives and communities since the Nation's
founding, dating back to the first publicly funded, paid fire
department established in Boston in 1678.
(6) During the Civil War (1861-1865), first responders,
including battlefield medics and firefighters, played critical
roles in saving lives and mitigating destruction, reinforcing
their importance in times of national crisis.
(7) Gold Star families, who have made the ultimate
sacrifice in service to the Nation, have endured profound loss
while upholding the principles of freedom and democracy. Their
resilience and dedication to honoring their fallen loved ones
continue to inspire and strengthen communities across America.
(8) First responders embody the ideals of ``life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness'' by safeguarding lives and
communities, representing a modern continuation of the
sacrifices made during the fight for independence.
(9) The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation's
mission ensures that the legacy of service and sacrifice is
preserved and that those who dedicate their lives to protecting
others are never forgotten.
(10) The issuance of this commemorative coin will raise
awareness of the sacrifices made by Gold Star families, first
responders, veterans, and their families, fostering a deeper
understanding of their role in upholding the freedoms
envisioned in the Declaration of Independence.
(11) Congress has a long-standing tradition of authorizing
commemorative coins to celebrate the Nation's history and the
contributions of its citizens and organizations to preserving
liberty and justice for all.
(12) Proceeds from the surcharges on the sale of these
commemorative coins will directly benefit the Stephen Siller
Tunnel to Towers Foundation, enabling the continuation of its
impactful programs that support Gold Star families, first
responders, veterans, and their families.
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 continual recognition of the Nation's
semiquincentennial by honoring over 250 years of Americans' service and
sacrifice:
(1) $5.00 gold coins.--Not more than 100,000 $5.00 coins,
which shall--
(A) weigh 8.359 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
(C) contain at least 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) have 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.
(d) Mintage Limit Exception.--If the Secretary determines, based on
independent, market based research conducted by the designated
recipient organization identified in section 7(b) that the mintage
levels described under this subsection are not adequate to meet public
demand, the Secretary may increase the mintage levels as the Secretary
determines is necessary to meet public demand.
SEC. 4. DESIGNS OF COINS.
(a) Design Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The designs of the coins minted under this
Act shall be emblematic of over 250 years of American's service
and sacrifice.
(2) Designation 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 ``2028''; 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 the
Stephen Siller-Tunnel to Towers Foundation and 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) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins under this
Act only during the period beginning on January 1, 2028, and ending on
December 31, 2028.
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 as follows:
(1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the gold coins.
(2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the silver coins.
(3) A surcharge of $5 per coin for the half-dollar coins.
(b) Distribution.--All surcharges received by the Secretary from
the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be allocated to the
Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation to support programs that
provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families, the families of
first responders killed in the line of duty, scholarships for their
children, resources for disaster response teams, and memorial projects
honoring their service and sacrifice. These efforts serve as a living
tribute to the enduring legacy of those who have safeguarded and
advanced the ideals of the Declaration of Independence from its signing
to the present day.
(c) Audits.--The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation shall
be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31,
United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under
subsection (b).
(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. The Secretary of the Treasury may issue guidance to
carry out this subsection.
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, shall be
disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7(b) 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.
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