October 28, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 170 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 170
(House of Representatives - October 28, 2019)
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[Pages H8505-H8507] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1865) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a coin in commemoration of the opening of the National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1865 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 ``National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) In 2000, Congress passed and President William J. Clinton signed into law the National Law Enforcement Museum Act (Public Law 106-492), which authorized the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., to build the National Law Enforcement Museum on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor and commemorate the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers in the United States. (2) In April 2016, construction began on the National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia across the street from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Judiciary Square. (3) The National Law Enforcement Museum formally opened in October of 2018. (4) The National Law Enforcement Museum's mission is-- (A) to honor and commemorate the extraordinary service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers; (B) to serve as an important bridge between law enforcement's past and present, between the heroes of yesteryear and those who have followed in their footsteps, and between America's peace officers and the public they serve; (C) increase public understanding and support for law enforcement and to promote law enforcement safety; and (D) strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve with thought-provoking programs at the Museum and around the country that promote dialogue on topics of current interest. 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 coin: (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 not less than 90 percent gold. (2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 400,000 $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 section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS. (a) Design Requirements.-- (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the National Law Enforcement Museum and the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers throughout the history of the United States. (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 ``2021''; and (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus Unum''. (b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this Act shall be-- (1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc.; 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 Facilities.--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, 2021. 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 the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., for educational and outreach programs and exhibits. (c) Audits.--The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., 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 (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. SEC. 8. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David Scott) and the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia. General Leave Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia? There was no objection. Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, in 2000, Congress passed and President Clinton signed into law the National Law Enforcement Museum Act. That bill authorized the construction of the National Law Enforcement Museum to commemorate the service and sacrifices of our U.S. law enforcement officers, a very, very important piece of legislation. The National Law Enforcement Museum opened its doors in October of 2018 with a mission to honor the lives of service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers, serve as an important bridge between law enforcement's past and present, and strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the communities that they serve. [[Page H8506]] This bipartisan legislation authorizes the Department of the Treasury to mint $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins in 2021 to commemorate the National Law Enforcement Museum and the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers throughout history. Proceeds from the sales of these coins will go toward funding the museum's educational and outreach programs and exhibits. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Pascrell of New Jersey--as I affectionately refer to him, the mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, a great town--for introducing this bill this Congress, and I urge Members to vote ``yes.'' Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1865, the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act. I would like to also thank the gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Pascrell, and my colleague, Senator Blunt from Missouri, for all of their hard work on this important, bipartisan piece of legislation. Madam Speaker, in 2000, Congress authorized the creation of the National Law Enforcement Museum, and just 18 years later, the museum was formally opened on October 13, 2018, in Washington, D.C., across the street from the National Law Enforcement Memorial. Every day, our Nation's law enforcement officers put their uniforms on and go to work not knowing if they will make it home. They selflessly protect us while asking nothing in return. The establishment of this museum serves as a reminder of the great sacrifices that law enforcement officers make. By educating the public on their work, the museum serves as a vital resource in sharing the daily experiences of our men and women in uniform. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1865, the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act, directs the U.S. Treasury to mint a coin in 2021 in commemoration of the opening of the National Law Enforcement Museum here in Washington, D.C. Additionally, the proceeds of this important commemorative coin will go to support the National Law Enforcement Museum and to ensure that it is able to maintain a robust and diverse level of programming. Madam Speaker, the passage of H.R. 1865 will greatly honor our Nation's law enforcement and further support this remarkable institution. We should do our part by passing this bipartisan piece of legislation to create this commemorative coin. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), a distinguished gentleman and the sponsor of this important piece of legislation. Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Scott for his comments. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our brave men and women in blue who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. In recognition of their service, my co-chair, the co-chair of first responders and our police, he and I go beyond which side of the aisle we sit on to do what is right. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Rutherford, John Rutherford, for his bipartisan work in this area, a former long-time sheriff. So I am really talking about the gentleman also in this bill, because he put his life on the line for quite a few years in Duval County, I believe. So in recognition of their service, I helped pass the National Law Enforcement Museum Act very early when I got to Congress. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. He signed it faster than I was able to get it passed. He signed it on November 9, 2000. This museum honors the service of local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers in the United States. A decade later, construction of the museum began at Judiciary Square in this great city, right across the street from the National Law Enforcement Memorial. Construction was just completed last year. This museum serves as a tribute to the lives, the sacrifices, and the service of our Nation's law enforcement. {time} 1730 This museum will play a vital role, as was mentioned before by the gentlewoman, in educating the public on the varied work of our Nation's law enforcement officers--which I contend most people in the Congress are ignorant of--as well as promoting the safety of the men and women in uniform. To build on this support, I introduced H.R. 1865, the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act, to direct the Department of the Treasury to mint a coin in commemoration of the opening of this great museum. Proceeds from the sale of the commemorative coins will provide a much-needed funding stream to the nonprofit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for educational and outreach programs and exhibits at the National Law Enforcement Museum. This will ensure our Nation's finest are recognized properly for generations to come. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment now to recognize those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities. In 2018 and so far in 2019, we have mourned the loss of 266 men and women who died in the line of duty, three of whom served in the State of New Jersey. The first officer that I will mention is Tamby Yagan of the Paterson Police Department--my town--who spent 13 years of service in the police department. Officer Yagan tragically died in an automobile crash on April 22, 2018. Lieutenant Christopher Robateau from the Jersey City Police Department passed on January 5, 2018, after being struck by a vehicle. And New Jersey State Police Trooper Robert Emmet Nagle, who passed on November 26, 2018, because of a 9/11-related illness. I grieve for their families and loved ones. I know the House does also. I thank Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Chairwoman Maxine Waters for bringing this legislation to the floor. I also thank my good friend and partner in chairing the bipartisan House Law Enforcement Caucus, Congressman John Rutherford, a former sheriff, as I said before. He co-authored this bill. Finally, I thank Marcia Ferranto, the CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, for her and her colleagues' work on this bill and the efforts to make the National Law Enforcement Museum a success. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey. Mr. PASCRELL. This bill has strong support from several law enforcement groups, including Concerns of Police Survivors, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the Police Foundation. Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 1865, and I look forward to its passage and into law. Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford), the Republican lead and cochair of the Law Enforcement Caucus. Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank my kind colleague from Missouri for this opportunity. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1865, which will give our law enforcement officers and their long honorable history the recognition that they so deserve. The National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act will have the Treasury, as was mentioned earlier, mint a commemorative coin in recognition of the newly opened National Law Enforcement Museum here in Washington, D.C. The proceeds collected from the sale of this coin will be given to the museum to support its operations. As you know, Madam Speaker, millions come from around the world to visit our Nation's Capital every year. They learn about our culture, our history, and our founding principles. Now, they may also visit the National Law Enforcement Museum to learn about our heroic police officers who dedicated [[Page H8507]] their lives and, in too many instances, made the supreme sacrifice laying down their lives in order to keep their community safe. As a former sheriff of Jacksonville, Florida, I saw the personal sacrifices and brave actions by countless officers under my command. Law enforcement officers around the country put on the uniform every day and they head out to protect their community, willing to sacrifice their life for their friends and neighbors. Sadly, too many of those officers do not return home from their shift. So far this year, 99 officers have lost their lives in the line of duty, offering their full measure of devotion to their community. This bill will ensure that their stories be told for generations to come. I thank my good friend, Congressman Pascrell from New Jersey, co- chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus. His support, respect, and true concern for law enforcement across this country is greatly appreciated by all of those organizations and men and women that he just listed. Madam Speaker, I hope that all of my colleagues will join me today in supporting our brave law enforcement officers across this country and pass this important bill. Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David Scott) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1865, 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. ____________________
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