Coronavirus Front-Line Responders Commemorative Coin Act
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 300,000 half dollar clad coins in honor and commemoration of the work of the frontline responders to the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19) pandemic.
All surcharges received from the sale of coins issued under this bill shall be promptly paid to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Foundation to support the health care response to infectious diseases and pandemics.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1900 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1900
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration
of the health care professionals, first responders, scientists,
researchers, all essential workers, and individuals who provided care
and services during the coronavirus pandemic.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 16, 2021
Mr. Bergman (for himself and Mr. Neguse) 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 health care professionals, first responders, scientists,
researchers, all essential workers, and individuals who provided care
and services during the coronavirus pandemic.
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 ``Coronavirus Front-Line Responders
Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Health care professionals working with patients in
person and via telehealth made incredible sacrifices, including
to their own personal wellbeing, to save lives during the
coronavirus pandemic.
(2) First responders and law enforcement upheld their
responsibilities at great personal risk to keep our national
and local communities safe and slow the spread of the
coronavirus.
(3) Scientists and researchers, including at our nation's
research universities, worked tirelessly and in innovative ways
to understand, prevent, and treat the coronavirus.
(4) Individuals and families bravely took on new burdens to
care for loved ones impacted by the coronavirus.
(5) The dedication of countless workers in essential
professions made possible the nationwide effort to combat the
coronavirus pandemic.
(6) In the face of an unprecedented public health crisis,
the citizens of the United States of America came together and
supported the dedicated health care professionals and others on
the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to honor and commemorate
the work of the coronavirus pandemic front-line responders.
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:
(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 and 10 percent alloy.
(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 at least 90 percent silver.
(3) Half dollar clad coins.--Not more than 300,000 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 in subsections (a), (b), and (c) 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 the sacrifices made by health care
workers and first responders during the coronavirus pandemic.
(2) Designations 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 ``2024''; 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--
(1) honor the sacrifices made by health care professionals,
first responders, scientists, and researchers during the
coronavirus pandemic;
(2) be selected by the Secretary, after consultation with
the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commission
of Fine Arts; and
(3) be 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 one 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,
2024.
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 $5 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 CDC Foundation to support the health care response to infectious
diseases and pandemics.
(c) Audits.--The CDC 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 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 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. MARKETING AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
The Secretary is encouraged to develop and execute a marketing and
educational program, including appropriate cooperative marketing
opportunities, to promote and sell the coins authorized in section 3.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
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