[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1057 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1057
To award a congressional gold medal on behalf of all government workers
and others who responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon and perished and people aboard United Airlines Flight 93
who helped resist the highjackers and caused the plane to crash, to
award a duplicate in silver of such gold medals to the personal
respresentative of each such person, to require the Secretary of
Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the Spirit of America,
recognizing the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 2, 2005
Mr. King of New York (for himself, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Tom Davis of
Virginia, and Mr. Engel) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To award a congressional gold medal on behalf of all government workers
and others who responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon and perished and people aboard United Airlines Flight 93
who helped resist the highjackers and caused the plane to crash, to
award a duplicate in silver of such gold medals to the personal
respresentative of each such person, to require the Secretary of
Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the Spirit of America,
recognizing the tragic events of September 11, 2001, 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 ``True American Heroes Act of 2005'' .
TITLE I--MEDALS FOR RESPONDERS AND RESISTERS
SEC. 101. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL .
(a) Presentation Authorized.--In recognition of the bravery and
self-sacrifice of--
(1) the officers, emergency workers, and other employees of
State and local government agencies, including the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey, and of the United States
Government and others, who responded to the attack on the World
Trade Center in New York City;
(2) the passengers and crew members on board United
Airlines Flight 93 who aided in the effort to resist the
hijackers on board the plane; and
(3) the officers, emergency workers, and other employees of
the United States Government, who responded to the attack on
the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.,
and perished in the tragic events of September 11, 2001 (including
those who are missing and presumed dead), the Speaker of the House and
the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate
arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the Congress on the 5th
anniversary of such events, of a single gold medal of appropriate
design, in the name of the unknown officer, worker, employee,
passenger, or crew member, who was the first to die that day in each
such tragedy, to an appropriate representative of all such officers,
emergency workers, employees, and other individuals for permanent
public display in the Smithsonian Institution.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation referred
to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a gold
medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be
determined by the Secretary that is emblematic of the valor and heroism
of the men and women honored.
SEC. 102. SILVER DUPLICATES ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO
RESPONDED TO THE ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND
PERISHED.
(a) In General.--
(1) World trade center site memorial.--The Secretary of the
Treasury shall strike a duplicate in silver of the gold medal
struck pursuant to section 101(a) for permanent public display
at a memorial at the site of the World Trade Center attacks.
(2) Responders.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury
shall strike additional duplicates in silver of the
gold medal struck pursuant to section 101(a) for
presentation on behalf of each officer, emergency
worker, or other employee of State and local government
agencies, including the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey, or of the United States Government or
others, who responded to the attacks on the World Trade
Center in New York City, and perished in the tragic
events of September 11, 2001 (including any who are
missing and presumed dead) to the next of kin or other
personal representative of each such officer, emergency
worker, employee, or other individual.
(B) Determination of recipients and award of
duplicate silver medals.--The Secretary of the Treasury
shall--
(i) determine the number of silver
duplicate medals to be presented under this
subsection and the appropriate recipients of
the medals after consulting with appropriate
representatives of Federal, State, and local
officers and agencies and the Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey; and
(ii) make appropriate arrangements for the
presentation of such silver duplicate medals to
the appropriate persons.
(3) Departments and duty stations.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury
shall strike additional duplicates in silver of the
gold medal struck pursuant to section 101(a) for
presentation to each of the following, for permanent
display in the respective offices, houses, stations, or
places of employment:
(i) The Governor of the State of New York.
(ii) The Mayor of the City of New York.
(iii) The Commissioner of the New York
Police Department, the Commissioner of the New
York Fire Department, the head of emergency
medical services for the City of New York, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey, and such other officers as may be appropriate.
(iv) Each precinct house, fire house,
emergency response station, or other duty
station or place of employment to which each
person referred to in subsection (a) was
assigned on September 11, 2001, for display in
each such place in a manner befitting the
memory of such persons.
(b) Use of the United States Mint at West Point, New York.--It is
the sense of the Congress that the duplicates authorized under this
section should be struck at the United States Mint at West Point, New
York, to the greatest extent possible.
SEC. 103. SILVER DUPLICATES ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE ABOARD UNITED AIRLINES
FLIGHT 93 WHO HELPED RESIST THE HIJACKERS AND CAUSED THE
PLANE TO CRASH.
(a) Congressional Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
(1) On September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93,
piloted by Captain James Dahl, departed from Newark
International Airport at 8:01 a.m. on its scheduled route to
San Francisco, California, with 7 crew members and 38
passengers on board.
(2) Shortly after departure, United Airlines Flight 93 was
hijacked by terrorists.
(3) At 10:37 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
(4) Evidence indicates that people aboard United Airlines
Flight 93 learned that other hijacked planes had been used to
attack the World Trade Center in New York City and resisted the
actions of the hijackers on board.
(5) The effort to resist the hijackers aboard United
Airlines Flight 93 appears to have caused the plane to crash
prematurely, potentially saving hundreds or thousands of lives
and preventing the destruction of the White House, the Capitol,
or another important symbol of freedom and democracy.
(6) The leaders of the resistance aboard United Airlines
Flight 93 demonstrated exceptional bravery, valor, and
patriotism, and are worthy of the appreciation of the people of
the United States.
(b) Silver Duplicates.--
(1) United airline flight 93 crash site memorial.--The
Secretary of the Treasury shall strike a duplicate in silver of
the gold medal struck pursuant to section 101(a) for permanent
public display at a memorial at the crash site of United
Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
(2) Resistors.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall strike
additional duplicates in silver of the gold medal struck
pursuant to section 101(a) for presentation on behalf of each
passenger or crew member on board United Airlines Flight 93 who
aided in the effort to resist the hijackers on board to the
next of kin or other personal representative of each such
passenger or crew member.
(3) Determination of recipients and award of duplicate
silver medals.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall--
(A) determine the number of silver duplicate medals
to be presented under this subsection and the
appropriate recipients of the medals after consulting
with the Attorney General of the United States; and
(B) make appropriate arrangements for the
presentation of such silver duplicate medals to the
appropriate persons.
SEC. 104. SILVER DUPLICATES FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE
ATTACKS ON THE PENTAGON AND PERISHED.
(a) Pentagon Site Memorial.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall
strike a duplicate in silver of the gold medal struck pursuant to
section 101(a) for permanent public display at a memorial at the site
of the Pentagon attack.
(b) Responders.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall strike
additional duplicates in silver of the gold medal struck pursuant to
section 101(a) for presentation on behalf of each officer, emergency
worker, or other employee of the United States who responded to the
attacks on the Pentagon Washington, D.C. and perished in the tragic
events of September 11, 2001, to the next of kin or other personal
representative of each such officer, emergency worker, employee, or
other individual.
(c) Determination of Recipients and Award of Duplicate Silver
Medals.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall--
(1) determine the number of silver duplicate medals to be
presented under this subsection and the appropriate recipients
of the medals after consulting with the Secretary of Defense.
(2) make appropriate arrangements for the presentation of
such silver duplicate medals to the appropriate persons.
SEC. 105. BRONZE DUPLICATES.
Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the
Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal
struck under section 101(a) at a price sufficient to cover the costs of
the bronze medals (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery,
and overhead expenses) and the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 106. NATIONAL MEDALS; SINGLE DESIGN.
The medals struck under this title--
(1) are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title
31, United States Code; and
(2) shall bear the same designs, emblems, devices, and
inscriptions, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.
TITLE II--SPIRIT OF AMERICA COMMEMORATIVE COINS
SEC. 201. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) On September 11, 2001, the United States suffered the
worst act of terrorism in its history.
(2) The roughly 3,000 people who lost their lives as a
result of the terrorist attacks that occurred in New York City,
at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001,
will not be forgotten.
(3) Hundreds of emergency personnel responded heroically to
the crisis and lost their lives as a result.
(4) People from everywhere in the United States responded
to the crisis with an outpouring of support for the victims of
the terrorist attacks and their families.
(5) The civilized world stands with strength and fortitude
in opposition to the cowardly terrorist attacks against the
United States that occurred on September 11, 2001.
(6) It is essential to remember not only the tragedy of the
attacks, but also the strength and resolve demonstrated by the
people of the United States in the aftermath of the attacks.
(7) The minting of coins in commemoration of the Spirit of
America will pay tribute to the countless heroes who risked
their lives during the terrorist attacks and in their aftermath
so that others may live and to a united people whose belief in
freedom, justice, and democracy has never swayed.
SEC. 202. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--In commemoration of the Spirit of America, the
Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this title referred to as the
``Secretary'') shall mint and issue the following coins:
(1) $50 gold coins.--Such number of $50 coins as the
Secretary determines under subsection (b), which shall--
(A) weigh 1 ounce;
(B) have a diameter of 1.287 inches; and
(C) contain 91.67 percent gold and 8.33 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 90 percent silver and 10 percent
copper.
(3) Half dollar clad coins.--Such number of half dollar
coins as the Secretary determines appropriate to meet demand,
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) Number of Gold Coins.--
(1) In general.--The maximum number of gold coins minted
and issued under this title shall equal the sum of 25,000 and
the number determined under paragraph (2).
(2) Determination of number.--The Secretary, in
consultation with the Attorney General of the United States,
the Secretary of Defense, and the Governors of New York,
Pennsylvania, and Virginia shall determine the number of
innocent individuals confirmed or presumed to have been killed
as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United States
that occurred on September 11, 2001, and shall identify such
individuals. The Secretary, under subsection (a)(1), shall mint
and issue a number of $50 coins equal to the number of such
individuals.
(c) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this title shall be legal
tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.
(d) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5136 of title 31,
United States Code, all coins minted under this title shall be
considered to be numismatic items.
(e) Sources of Bullion.--For the purpose of minting coins under
this title, the Secretary may only use metals that are from natural
deposits in the United States or any territory or possession of the
United States.
(f) Special Treatment Under Exigent Circumstances.--
(1) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
(A) The limitations contained in paragraphs (1) and
(2)(A) of section 5112(m) of title 31, United States
Code, and section 5134(f)(1)(B) of such title have well
served, and continue to serve, their purpose of
bringing greater stability to the markets for
commemorative coins, maximizing demand and
participation in such programs, and ensuring that such
programs have a broad base of private support and are
not used as the primary means of fundraising by
organizations that are the recipients of surcharges.
(B) The shocking circumstances of September 11,
2001, the broad base of public interest in showing the
Spirit of America and participating in the raising of
funds for the victims of the crimes committed on that
date, and the importance of implementing this coin
program as quickly as possible, notwithstanding the
limitations contained in such paragraphs,
justify exempting the coins produced under this title from such
limitations.
(2) Exemption.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 5112(m)
of title 31, United States Code, and section 5134(f)(1)(B) of
such title shall not apply to coins authorized under this
title.
SEC. 203. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) In General.--The design of the coins minted under this title
shall be emblematic of the tragic events that occurred at the Pentagon,
in New York City, and in Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001.
(b) Designation and Inscriptions.--On each coin minted under this
title there shall be--
(1) a designation of the value of the coin;
(2) an inscription of the date ``September 11, 2001'' (and
such coin shall bear no other date); and
(3) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We
Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus Unum''.
(c) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this title
shall be selected--
(1) by the Secretary after consultation with the Commission
of Fine Arts; and
(2) reviewed by the citizens advisory committee established
under section 5135 of title 31, United States Code.
SEC. 204. STRIKING AND ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraph (2),
coins minted under this title shall be issued in uncirculated
quality.
(2) Gold coins.--$50 coins minted under section 202(a)(1)
shall be issued only in proof quality.
(b) Mint Facility.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided under paragraph (2),
only 1 facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike
any particular quality of the coins minted under this title.
(2) Clad coins.--Any number of facilities of the United
States Mint may be used to strike the half dollar coins minted
under section 202(a)(3).
(c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary--
(1) shall commence issuing coins minted under this title as
soon as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act;
and
(2) shall not issue any coins after the end of the 1-year
period beginning on the date such coins are first issued.
SEC. 205. SALE OF COINS.
(a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under section 202(a) (other than
the $50 gold coins referred to in subsection (d)) shall be sold by the
Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
(1) the face value of the coins;
(2) the surcharges required by section 206(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 section 202(a) at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid Orders.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders
received before the issuance of the coins minted under section 202(a).
The sale prices with respect to such prepaid orders shall be at a
reasonable discount.
(d) Gold Coins.--Notwithstanding section 204(c)(2), the Secretary
shall issue a $50 coin minted under section 202(a)(1) for presentation
free of charge to the next of kin or personal representative of each
individual identified under section 202(b). The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make
appropriate arrangements for the presentation, on behalf of the
Congress, of such gold coins.
SEC. 206. SURCHARGES ON SALE OF COINS.
(a) Assessment.--Any sale by the Secretary of a coin minted under
this title shall include a surcharge of--
(1) $100 per coin for the $50 gold coins;
(2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin; and
(3) $5 per coin for the half dollar coin.
(b) Distribution of Excess Proceeds.--Any proceeds from the
surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued
under this title in excess of the cost of producing all coins issued
under this title (including coins presented under section 205(d)) shall
be--
(1) used to cover the costs incurred in the production of
gold medals, gold duplicate medals, and silver duplicate medals
under title I that have not been recovered from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals under such title; and
(2) with respect to any amount remaining after the costs
described in paragraph (1) are covered, transferred to each
fund determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be
appropriate that was established for the purpose of
establishing and maintaining any memorial referred to in
section 101(c), 102(d) or 103(c) in equal amounts to each such
fund.
<all>