American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in celebration of the recovery of the bald eagle, in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the placement of the bald eagle on the endangered species list under such Act, to mint and issue not more than: (1) 100,000 $5 gold coins; (2) 500,000 $1 silver coins; and (3) 750,000 half dollar coins.
Directs that the design of the coins be emblematic of the bald eagle and its history, natural biology, and national symbolism.
Requires that sales of the coins include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin, $10 for the $1 coin, and $3 for the half dollar coin, which shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee to: (1) establish an interest-bearing endowment called the American Eagle Fund as a permanent source of support for the care, monitoring, maintenance, and recovery of the bald eagle and its habitat in the United States; (2) make annual grants to Federal, State, and private eagle restoration, protection, and enhancement projects; (3) administer the Fund in an annual amount not to exceed the lesser of ten percent of the annual income of the Fund or $250,000; and (4) provide financial support for capital projects and for continuation and expansion of the Foundation's efforts to educate the American people about the bald eagle.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2889 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2889
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins celebrating the
recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national
symbol of the United States, to America's lands, waterways, and skies
and the great importance of the designation of the American bald eagle
as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 5, 2004
Mr. Alexander (for himself and Ms. Landrieu) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins celebrating the
recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national
symbol of the United States, to America's lands, waterways, and skies
and the great importance of the designation of the American bald eagle
as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and
for other purposes.
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 ``American Bald Eagle Recovery and
National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) The bald eagle was designated as the national emblem of
the United States on June 20, 1782, by our country's Founding
Fathers at the Second Continental Congress.
(2) The bald eagle is the greatest visible symbol of the
spirit of freedom and democracy in the world.
(3) The bald eagle species is unique to North America and
represents the American values and attributes of freedom,
courage, strength, spirit, loyalty, justice, equality,
democracy, quality, and excellence.
(4) The bald eagle is the central image used in the Great
Seal of the United States and the seal of many branches and
departments of the United States Government, including the
President and the Vice President of the United States, the
United States Congress, the Department of Defense, the
Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, the
Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Department
of Homeland Security, and the United States Postal Service.
(5) The bald eagle's image and symbolism have played a
profound role in establishing and honoring American beliefs and
traditions.
(6) The bald eagle's image and symbolism have influenced
American art, music, history, literature, commerce, and culture
since the founding of our Nation.
(7) The bald eagle species was once threatened with
possible extinction in the lower 48 States, but is now making a
gradual, encouraging recovery within America's lands,
waterways, and skies.
(8) The bald eagle was federally classified as an
``endangered'' species in 1973 under the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, and, in 1995, was removed from the ``endangered''
species list and upgraded to the less imperiled ``threatened''
status under such Act.
(9) The administration is likely to officially delist the
bald eagle from both the ``endangered'' and ``threatened''
species lists under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 by no
later than 2008.
(10) The initial recovery of the bald eagle population in
the United States was accomplished by the vigilant efforts of
numerous caring agencies, corporations, organizations, and
citizens.
(11) The continued caring and concern of the American
people and the further restoration and protection of the bald
eagle and its habitat are necessary to guarantee the full
recovery and survival of this precious national treasure for
future generations.
(12) Since the Endangered Species Act of 1973 requires that
delisted species be administratively monitored for a 5-year
period, the bald eagle nests in 49 States will require
continual monitoring after the bald eagle is removed from the
protection of such Act; and such efforts will require
substantial funding to the Federal and State agencies and
private organizations that will conduct such monitoring.
(13) Due to Federal and State budget cutting and balancing
trends, funding for on-going bald eagle care, restoration,
monitoring, protection, and enhancement programs has diminished
annually.
(14) In anticipation of the nationwide observance of the
official removal, by 2008, of the bald eagle from the
``threatened'' species list under the Endangered Species Act of
1973, and the 35th anniversary, in 2008, of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 and the designation of the bald eagle as an
``endangered'' species under such Act, Congress wishes to offer
the opportunity for all persons to voluntarily participate in
raising funds for future bald eagle recovery, monitoring, and
preservation efforts and to contribute to a special American
Eagle Fund endowment managed by the not-for-profit American
Eagle Foundation of Tennessee in the United States, in
cooperation with fund management experts.
(15) It is appropriate for Congress to authorize coins--
(A) celebrating the recovery and restoration of the
bald eagle, the living symbol of freedom in the United
States, to America's lands, waterways, and skies;
(B) commemorating the removal of the bald eagle
from the ``endangered'' and ``threatened'' species
lists under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; and
(C) commemorating the 35th anniversary of the
enactment of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the
designation of the bald eagle as an ``endangered''
species under such Act.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--In celebration of the recovery of the bald
eagle, the national living symbol of freedom, to America's lands,
waterways, and skies and in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of
the enactment of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the placement
of the bald eagle on the endangered species list under such Act, the
Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the
``Secretary'') shall mint and issue the following coins:
(1) $5 gold coins.--Not more than 100,000 $5 coins, which
shall--
(A) weigh 8.359 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
(C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.
(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 90 percent silver and 10 percent
copper.
(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.
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 bald eagle and its history,
natural biology, and national symbolism.
(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 ``2008''; 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 American Eagle Foundation of
Tennessee in the United States; 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,
2008.
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 minted under this Act shall
include a surcharge as follows:
(1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin.
(2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
(3) A surcharge of $3 per coin for the half dollar coin.
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) 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 American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee in the United States for use
solely for the following purposes:
(1) To establish an interest-bearing endowment called the
``American Eagle Fund'' as a permanent source of support for
the care, monitoring, maintenance, and recovery of the bald
eagle and its habitat in the United States, including the
following:
(A) Public education activities and events.
(B) Habitat purchases and cooperative land
agreements.
(C) Raptor rehabilitation and captive breeding and
hacking.
(D) Behavior and migration research and wintering
migration counts.
(E) Facilitate the enforcement of laws protecting
the bald eagle.
(F) Nest-watch monitoring and eaglet banding.
(G) Public viewing areas and visitor centers.
(2) To make annual grants, in an amount not to exceed 10
percent of the annual income of the American Eagle Fund, to
Federal, State, and private eagle restoration, protection, and
enhancement projects within the 5 bald eagle recovery regions
established by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in
accordance with recommendations made by an advisory committee
of recognized eagle experts which the Foundation shall
establish.
(3) To administer the American Eagle Fund, including
contracting for necessary services, in an annual amount not to
exceed the lesser of--
(A) 10 percent of the annual income of the American
Eagle Fund; or
(B) $250,000.
(4) To provide financial support for capital projects
related to the restoration and protection of bald eagles in
Tennessee and in the United States, in general.
(5) To provide financial support for the continuation and
expansion of the efforts of the American Eagle Foundation of
Tennessee in the United States to educate the American people
nationally about the livelihood, symbolism, and protection of
the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States,
through the dissemination of information regarding bald eagles
and their habitat at special events and through the media
(including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, the
Internet, and billboards).
(c) Audits.--The American Eagle Foundation of Tennessee in the
United States and the American Eagle Fund shall be subject to the audit
requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code,
with regard to the amounts received by the Foundation or the Fund under
subsection (b).
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11677)
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