II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2119 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 1, 2007 Mr. Johnson (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Biden, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Salazar, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Mr. Thune, Mr. Vitter, and Mr. Voinovich) 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 in commemoration of veterans who became disabled for life while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act.
2.
Findings
The Congress finds as follows: (1)The Armed Forces of the United States have answered the call and served with distinction around the world—from hitting the beaches in World War II in the Pacific and Europe, to the cold and difficult terrain in Korea, the steamy jungles of Vietnam, and the desert sands of the Middle East. (2)All Americans should commemorate those who come home having survived the ordeal of war, and solemnly honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives for their country. (3)All Americans should honor the millions of living disabled veterans who carry the scars of war every day, and who have made enormous personal sacrifices defending the principles of our democracy. (4)In 2000, Congress authorized the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. (5)The United States should pay tribute to the Nation’s living disabled veterans by minting and issuing a commemorative silver dollar coin. (6)The surcharge proceeds from the sale of a commemorative coin would raise valuable funding for the construction of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.
3.
Coin specifications
(a)
$1 Silver Coins
The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary) shall mint and issue not more than 350,000 $1 coins in commemoration of disabled American veterans, each of which shall— (1)weigh 26.73 grams; (2)have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and (3)contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. (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.
4.
Design of coins
(a)
Design Requirements
(1)
In general
The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the design selected by the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. (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 2010; 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 Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation and the Commission of Fine Arts; and (2)reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
5.
Issuance of coins
(a)
Quality of Coins
Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities. (b)
Mint Facility
(1)
In general
Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this Act. (2)
Use of the united states mint at west point, new york
It is the sense of the Congress that the coins minted under this Act should be struck at the United States Mint at West Point, New York, to the greatest extent possible. (c)
Period for Issuance
The Secretary may issue coins under this Act only during the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2010.
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 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.
7.
Surcharges
(a)
In General
All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge of $10 per 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 paid to the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation for the purpose of establishing an endowment to support the construction of American Veterans’ Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C. (c)
Audits
The Comptroller General of the United States shall have the right to examine such books, records, documents, and other data of the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation as may be related to the expenditures of amounts paid 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.