[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 255 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 255

To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration 
     of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National 
                 Aeronautics and Space Administration.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 7, 2009

Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas (for herself, Mr. Culberson, and Mr. Cuellar) 
 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 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National 
                 Aeronautics and Space Administration.

    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 ``NASA 50th Anniversary Commemorative 
Coin Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration began 
        operation on October 1, 1958, with about 8,000 employees and an 
        annual budget of $100,000,000;
            (2) over the next 50 years, the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration has been involved in many defining events 
        which have shaped the course of human history and demonstrated 
        to the world the character of the people of the United States;
            (3) among the many firsts by the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration are that--
                    (A) on December 6, 1958, the United States launched 
                Pioneer 3, the first United States satellite to ascend 
                to an altitude of 63,580 miles;
                    (B) on March 3, 1959, the United States sent 
                Pioneer 4 to the Moon, successfully making the first 
                United States lunar flyby;
                    (C) on April 1, 1960, the United States launched 
                TIROS 1, the first successful meteorological satellite, 
                observing Earth's weather;
                    (D) on May 5, 1961, Freedom 7, carrying Astronaut 
                Alan B. Shepard, Jr., was the first American space 
                flight involving human beings;
                    (E) on February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the 
                first American to circle the Earth, making 3 orbits in 
                his Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft;
                    (F) on December 14, 1962, Mariner 2 became the 
                first spacecraft to commit a successful planetary flyby 
                (Venus);
                    (G) on April 6, 1965, the United States launched 
                Intelsat I (also known as Early Bird 1), the first 
                commercial satellite (communications), into 
                geostationary orbit;
                    (H) on June 3 through 7, 1965, the second piloted 
                Gemini mission, Gemini IV, stayed aloft for 4 days, and 
                astronaut Edward H. White II performed the first EVA or 
                ``spacewalk'' by an American;
                    (I) on June 2, 1966, Surveyor 1 became the first 
                American spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon;
                    (J) on May 31, 1971, the United States launched 
                Mariner 9, the first mission to orbit another planet 
                (Mars) beginning November 13, 1971;
                    (K) on April 12, 1981, the National Aeronautics and 
                Space Administration launched the Space Shuttle 
                Columbia on the first flight of the Space 
                Transportation System (STS-1);
                    (L) on June 18, 1983, the National Aeronautics and 
                Space Administration launched Space Shuttle Challenger 
                (STS-7) carrying 3 mission specialists, including Sally 
                K. Ride, the first woman astronaut;
                    (M) in another historic mission, 2 months later, 
                the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
                launched STS-8 carrying the first black American 
                astronaut, Guion S. Bluford; and
                    (N) on July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia's 
                26th flight was led by Air Force Col. Eileen Collins, 
                the first woman to command a Shuttle mission;
            (4) on April 9, 1959, the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration unveiled the Mercury astronaut corps, 7 men with 
        ``the right stuff'': John H. Glenn, Jr., Walter M. Schirra, 
        Jr., Alan B. Shepard, Jr., M. Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon 
        Cooper, Virgil I. ``Gus'' Grissom, and Donald K. ``Deke'' 
        Slayton;
            (5) on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy, reflecting 
        the highest aspirations of the American people, proclaimed: ``I 
        believe this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, 
        before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and 
        returning him safely to Earth. No single space project in this 
        period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important in 
        the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so 
        difficult or expensive to accomplish.'';
            (6) on September 19, 1961, the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration announced that the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration center dedicated to human space flight 
        would be built in Houston, Texas;
            (7) on February 17, 1973, the Manned Spacecraft Center in 
        Houston was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center;
            (8) on December 21, 1968, Apollo 8 took off atop a Saturn V 
        booster from the Kennedy Space Center for a historic mission to 
        orbit the Moon;
            (9) as Apollo 8 traveled outward, the crew focused a 
        portable television camera on Earth and for the first time 
        humanity saw its home from afar, a tiny, lovely, and fragile 
        ``blue marble'' hanging in the blackness of space;
            (10) this transmission and viewing of Earth from a distance 
        was an enormously significant accomplishment and united the 
        Nation at a time when American society was in crisis over 
        Vietnam, race relations, urban problems, and a host of other 
        difficulties;
            (11) on July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. 
        Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin made the first lunar landing 
        mission while Michael Collins orbited overhead in the Apollo 
        command module;
            (12) Armstrong set foot on the surface of the Moon, telling 
        the millions of listeners that it was ``one small step for a 
        man, one giant leap for mankind'', and Aldrin soon followed and 
        planted an American flag, but omitted claiming the land for the 
        United States, as had routinely been done during European 
        exploration of the Americas;
            (13) the two Moon walkers left behind an American flag and 
        a plaque bearing the inscription: ``Here Men From The Planet 
        Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon. Jul. 1969 A.D. We Came in 
        Peace for All Mankind.'';
            (14) on April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was 
        launched into space aboard the STS-31 mission of the Space 
        Shuttle Discovery, and since then, the Hubble has 
        revolutionized astronomy, while expanding our knowledge of the 
        universe and inspiring millions of scientists, students, and 
        members of the public with its unprecedented deep and clear 
        images of space;
            (15) on July 4, 1997, the Mars Pathfinder landed on Mars 
        and on January 29, 1998, an International Space Station 
        agreement among 15 countries met in Washington, DC, to sign 
        agreements to establish the framework for cooperation among the 
        partners on the design, development, operation, and utilization 
        of the Space Station;
            (16) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's 
        stunning achievements over the last 50 years have been won for 
        all mankind at great cost and sacrifice; in the quest to 
        explore the universe, many National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration employees have lost their lives, including the 
        crews of Apollo 1, the Space Shuttle Challenger, and the Space 
        Shuttle Columbia;
            (17) the success of the United States space exploration 
        program in the 20th Century augurs well for its continued 
        leadership in the 21st Century, such leadership being 
        attributable to the remarkable and indispensable partnership 
        between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and 
        its 10 space and research centers, including--
                    (A) from small spacecraft to supercomputers, 
                science missions and payloads to thermal protection 
                systems, information technology to aerospace, the Ames 
                Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, which 
                provides products, technologies, and services that 
                enable NASA missions and expand human knowledge;
                    (B) the Dryden Flight Research Center, the leading 
                center for innovative flight research;
                    (C) the Glenn Research Center, which develops 
                power, propulsion, and communication technologies for 
                space flight systems and aeronautics research;
                    (D) the Goddard Space Flight Center, which 
                specializes in research to expand knowledge on the 
                Earth and its environment, the solar system, and the 
                universe through observations from space;
                    (E) the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the leading 
                center for robotic exploration of the solar system;
                    (F) the Johnson Space Center, which manages the 
                development, testing, production, and delivery of all 
                United States human spacecraft and all human 
                spacecraft-related functions;
                    (G) the Kennedy Space Center, the gateway to the 
                Universe and world leader in preparing and launching 
                missions around the Earth and beyond;
                    (H) the Langley Research Center, which continues to 
                forge new frontiers in aviation and space research for 
                aerospace, atmospheric sciences, and technology 
                commercialization to improve the way the world lives;
                    (I) the Marshall Space Flight Center, a world 
                leader in developing space transportation and 
                propulsion systems that accelerate exploration and 
                scientific discovery, including the Michoud Assembly 
                Facility, which has been a world-class facility since 
                1961 for fabrication of large space structures, 
                including the Saturn V and the Space Shuttle External 
                Tank, and which will have a critical role in the 
                Constellation program, including manufacturing major 
                pieces of the Orion crew capsule, the Ares I upper 
                stage, and the Ares V core stage; and
                    (J) the Stennis Space Center, which is responsible 
                for rocket propulsion testing and for partnering with 
                industry to develop and implement remote sensing 
                technology;
            (18) the United States should pay tribute to the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration, and to its successful 
        partnerships with the space and research centers, by minting 
        and issuing a commemorative silver dollar coin; and
            (19) the surcharge proceeds from the sale of a 
        commemorative coin would generate valuable funding for the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration Families 
        Assistance Fund, for the purposes of providing need-based 
        financial assistance to the families of any National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration personnel who lose their 
        lives as a result of injuries suffered in the performance of 
        their official duties, and for other worthy and important 
        purposes.

SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

    (a) Denominations.--In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 
establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Secretary'') shall mint and issue the following coins:
            (1) $50 gold coins.--Not more than 50,000 $50 gold coins, 
        which shall--
                    (A) weigh 33.931 grams;
                    (B) have a diameter of 32.7 millimeters; and
                    (C) contain 1 troy ounce of fine gold.
            (2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 300,000 $1 coins of 
        each of the 9 designs specified in section 4(a)(3)(B), 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.
    (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.
    (d) Mintage Level Limit.--Notwithstanding the mintage level limit 
described under section 5112(m)(2)(A)(ii) of title 31, United States 
Code, the Secretary may mint and issue not more than 300,000 of each of 
the nine $1 coins authorized to be minted under this Act.

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 50 years of exemplary and 
        unparalleled achievements of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration.
            (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 ``2011''; and
                    (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God 
                We Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E 
                Pluribus Unum'', and such other inscriptions as the 
                Secretary may determine to be appropriate for the 
                designs of the coins.
            (3) Coin images.--
                    (A) $50 coins.--
                            (i) Obverse.--The obverse of the $50 coins 
                        issued under this Act shall bear an image of 
                        the sun.
                            (ii) Reverse.--The reverse of the $50 coins 
                        issued under this Act shall bear a design 
                        emblematic of the sacrifice of the United 
                        States astronauts who lost their lives in the 
                        line of duty over the course of the space 
                        program.
                            (iii) High relief.--The design and 
                        inscriptions on the obverse and reverse of the 
                        $50 coins issued under this Act shall be in 
                        high relief.
                    (B) $1 coins.--
                            (i) Obverse.--The obverse of the $1 coins 
                        issued under this Act shall bear nine different 
                        designs, each of which shall consist of an 
                        image of one of the nine planets of the solar 
                        system, including Earth.
                            (ii) Reverse.--The reverse of the $1 coins 
                        issued under this Act shall bear different 
                        designs, each of which shall be emblematic of 
                        the contributions of the research and space 
                        centers, subject to the following requirements:
                                    (I) Earth coin.--The reverse of the 
                                $1 coins issued under this Act which 
                                bear an image of the Earth on the 
                                obverse shall bear images emblematic 
                                of, and honoring, the discoveries and 
                                missions of the National Aeronautics 
                                and Space Administration, the Mercury, 
                                Gemini, and Space Shuttle missions and 
                                other manned Earth-orbiting missions, 
                                and the Apollo missions to the Moon.
                                    (II) Jupiter coin.--The reverse of 
                                the $1 coins issued under this Act 
                                which bear an image of the planet 
                                Jupiter on the obverse shall include a 
                                scientifically accurate depiction of 
                                the Galilean moon Europa and depict 
                                both a past and future mission to 
                                Europa.
                                    (III) Saturn coin.--The reverse of 
                                the $1 coins issued under this Act 
                                which bear an image of the planet 
                                Saturn on the obverse shall include a 
                                scientifically accurate depiction of 
                                the moon Titan and depict both a past 
                                and a future mission to Titan.
                                    (IV) Pluto (and other dwarf 
                                planets) coin.--The reverse of the $1 
                                coins issued under this Act which bear 
                                an image of the planet Pluto on the 
                                obverse shall include a design that is 
                                emblematic of telescopic exploration of 
                                deep space by the National Aeronautics 
                                and Space Administration and the 
                                ongoing search for Earth-like planets 
                                orbiting other stars.
            (4) Realistic and scientifically accurate depictions.--The 
        images for the designs of coins issued under this Act shall be 
        selected on the basis of the realism and scientific accuracy of 
        the images and on the extent to which the images are 
        reminiscent of the dramatic and beautiful artwork on coins of 
        the so-called ``Golden Age of Coinage'' in the United States, 
        at the beginning of the Twentieth Century, with the 
        participation of such noted sculptors and medallic artists as 
        James Earle Fraser, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Victor David 
        Brenner, Adolph A. Weinman, Charles E. Barber, and George T. 
        Morgan.
    (b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this Act 
shall be--
            (1) selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the 
        Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration and the Commission of Fine Arts; and
            (2) reviewed by the Citizens Coin Advisory Committee.

SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.

    (a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be issued 
in proof quality only.
    (b) Mint Facility.--Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may 
be used to strike any particular combination of denomination and 
quality of the coins minted under this Act.
    (c) Period for Issuance.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, the Secretary--
            (1) may accept orders for the coins authorized under this 
        Act during the period beginning on January 1, 2011 and ending 
        on December 31, 2011; and
            (2) may mint and issue such coins required to fulfill such 
        orders during the period beginning on January 1, 2011 and 
        ending on December 31, 2011.
    (d) Exception to Program Limitation.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the minting or issuance of coins under this Act in 
2011 shall not--
            (1) preclude the Secretary from including a surcharge on 
        the issuance of any other commemorative coin minted or issued 
        in 2011; and
            (2) be counted against the annual 2 commemorative coin 
        program minting and issuance limitation under section 
        5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code.
    (e) Issuance of Gold Coins.--Each gold coin minted under this Act 
may be issued only as part of a complete set with one of each of the 
nine $1 coins minted under this Act.

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) 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.
    (c) Presentation.--In addition to the issuance of coins under this 
Act in such other methods of presentation as the Secretary determines 
to be appropriate, the Secretary shall provide, as a sale option, a 
presentation case which displays the $50 gold coin in the center, 
surrounded by the $1 silver coins in elliptical orbits. All such 
presentation cases shall bear a plaque with appropriate inscriptions 
that include the names and dates of the spacecraft missions on which 
United States astronauts lost their lives over the course of the space 
program and the names of such astronauts.

SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.

    (a) In General.--All sales of coins minted under this Act shall 
include a surcharge as follows:
            (1) A surcharge of $50 per coin for the $50 coin.
            (2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
            (3) A surcharge of $1 per coin for any bronze duplicate 
        minted under section 8.
    (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 distributed as follows:
            (1) The first $4,000,000 available for distribution under 
        this section, to the NASA Family Assistance Fund, for the 
        purpose of providing need-based financial assistance to the 
        families of NASA personnel who lose their lives as a result of 
        injuries suffered in the performance of their official duties.
            (2) Of amounts available for distribution after the payment 
        under paragraph (1), \1/2\ of the next $1,000,000 to each of 
        the following:
                    (A) The Dr. Ronald E. McNair Educational 
                (D.R.E.M.E.) Science Literacy Foundation for the 
                purposes of improving and strengthening the process of 
                teaching and learning science, math, and technology at 
                all educational levels, elementary through college 
                through the promotion of innovative educational 
                programs.
                    (B) The Challenger Center for Space Science 
                Education, for the purposes of creating positive 
                learning experiences using space science as a theme 
                that raise student expectations of success, fostering a 
                long-term interest in mathematics, science, and 
                technology, and motivating students to pursue careers 
                in these fields.
            (3) The remainder of the amounts available for distribution 
        after the payments under paragraphs (1) and (2), to the 
        Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for the preservation, 
        maintenance, and display of space artifacts at the National Air 
        and Space Museum (including the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center).
    (c) Audits.--The NASA Family Assistance Fund, the Dr. Ronald E. 
McNair Educational Science Literacy Foundation, the Challenger Center 
for Space Science Education, and the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution 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).

SEC. 8. BRONZE DUPLICATES.

    The Secretary may strike and sell bronze duplicates of the $50 gold 
coins authorized under this Act, at a price determined by the Secretary 
to be appropriate. Such duplicates shall not be considered to be United 
States coins and shall not be legal tender.
                                 <all>