[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12374-S12375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COMMEMORATIVE COIN BILL

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, today I rise to offer the Commemorative 
Coin Act of 1996, an amendment to H.R. 1776, the Black Revolutionary 
War Patriots Act.
  This measure incorporates the commemorative coin initiatives that 
have not only successfully garnered overwhelming support in the Senate, 
as well as the endorsement of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
Committee, but coin initiatives that have also been unanimously agreed 
to by the House of Representatives.
  Commemorative coins are collectibles that raise the public's 
awareness of events that molded our Nation, of the personal sacrifice 
and contribution from outstanding leaders, and of historic sites and 
fantastic natural monuments.
  We have already been successful in achieving our goal of 
Commemorative Coin reforms. These reforms are the result of the outcry 
for boycotts among numismatists nationwide and the losses commemorative 
programs have been experiencing over the last few years. I called for a 
study of the commemorative coin program by the Government Accounting 
Office in July 1995. The report was not issued until August 1996.
  The message in the report was simple--either take steps to reform 
commemorative programs or continue on the same path of burdening the 
taxpayer. After negotiations with the House, we were able to reach an 
agreement that had the full support of the House, the Senate, the 
Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and the U.S. Mint.
  The reforms we now have are based on those sponsored by 
Representative Michael Castle, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Domestic 
and International Monetary Policy of the Committee on Banking and 
Financial Services. Congressman Castle's bill, H.R. 2614, which was 
supported overwhelmingly in the House, served as an appropriate 
foundation for the reforms. I commend Mr. Castle on his guidance and 
perseverance as it relates to commemorative coin program reforms.
  The coin programs that this bill authorizes will give recognition to 
deserving, influential American citizens and historic figures such as 
Jackie Robinson, George Washington, Dolley Madison and Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt. For the first in the history of the Mint's commemorative 
coin program, we will honor not only the sacrifices and contributions 
made by African Americans during the Revolutionary War period, but 
Crispus Attucks, the first African American Revolutionary War patriot 
and colonist killed during the Boston Massacre.
  In addition we will celebrate the 125th anniversary of our country's 
first national park--Yellowstone National Park. And on a more somber 
note, we will salute the selfless contributions that our Nation's law 
enforcement officers and their families have made in preserving 
public safety. These men and women are not enlisted for battle, yet 
they risk their lives everyday. And tragically enough, lives are lost 
so that others may live without the threat of crime.

  The production and sale of commemorative coins allows the Treasury a 
means of decreasing the national deficit. Worthy causes also benefit 
from funds raised for worthwhile projects.
  Yet we are well aware that as the commemorative coin market becomes 
more and more saturated, it is becoming more and more common for coin 
programs to post losses, significant losses--in millions of dollars. 
Profits realized through well received programs end up covering these 
losses. That is essentially how the Mint's Public Enterprise Fund 
operates. But, we cannot and should not become completely reliant upon 
the safety net of the Public Enterprise Fund.
  In addition to the commemorative coin provisions, this legislation 
authorizes a study for the 50 States Circulating Commemorative Coin 
Programs. This temporary change to our currency could make history as 
well as teach history. Each State of the Union would be represented on 
the quarter in the order in which it joined the Union. Representation 
of all States would end 10 years from the inception of the circulating 
program.
  Mr. President, the time has come to assure that the American taxpayer 
is protected from losses that commemorative coin programs may 
experience. The reforms we have adopted will accomplish just that. 
Simultaneously, those reforms will revitalize the commemorative coin 
program and preserve the hobby of collecting coins.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a summary of the 
amendments be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the REcord, as follows:

                          Summary of Amendment


                                title I

                      Commemorative Coin Programs

       1. Jackie Robinson, commemorating the 50th anniversary of 
     the breaking of the color barrier in major league baseball. 
     Coins for July 1, 1997-July 1, 1998.
       2. Dolley Madison, commemorating the 150th anniversary of 
     the death of the wife of the fourth President of the United 
     States. Coins for period 1999.
       3. George Washington, commemorating the 200th anniversary 
     of the death of the first President of the United States. 
     Coins for period beginning May 1, 1999 and ending November 
     31, 1999.
       4. Black Revolutionary War Patriots/Crispus Attucks, 
     commemorating the 275th anniversary of the birth of the first 
     American colonist killed in the Revolutionary War and all 
     Black Revolutionary War Patriots. Coins for one year from 
     January 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998.
       5. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, commemorating the opening of 
     the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring the 32nd 
     President of the United States. Coins for one year from May 
     15, 1997.
       6. Yellowstone National Park, commemorating the 125th 
     anniversary of the establishment of the Yellowstone National 
     Park as the first national park in the United States. Coins 
     for one year starting in 1999.
       7. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, 
     commemorating the sacrifice and their families in preserving 
     public safety. Coins for one year from December 15, 1997.


                                title ii

       National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Maintenance 
     Fund--establishes a revolving fund to be administered by the 
     Secretary of the Interior.

                           *   *   *   *   *



                                title iv

               The Fifty States Commemorative Coin Study

       1. Authorizes a circulating coin program study utilizing 
     the quarter dollar and a design chosen to represent each 
     state as it joined the Union.

   Terms of the Members of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
                               Committee

       1. Terms to be limited to four years and to be staggered.
       2. Members are not to be considered special Government 
     employees.
       3. Amends Section 5131 of Title 31, U.S.C., by striking 
     subsection (c) regarding Presidential appointments.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in support of two 
commemorative coins that honor the memory of two great Americans and 
Virginians--George Washington and Dolley Madison. I have had the 
opportunity to speak at length in support of the George Washington 
commemorative coin and refer to my statement in the Record  on June 20, 
1996. However, I have not had the opportunity to speak in support of 
the Dolley Madison commemorative coin and so I will do so today.

[[Page S12375]]

  The Dolley Madison commemorative coin will honor the 150th 
anniversary of her death in 1999. It is remarkable that this will be 
the first commemorative coin to honor a First Lady and only the third 
to honor a woman. It is fitting that Dolley Madison will be the first 
First Lady so honored.
  Dolley Madison was, by all accounts, the originator of the role of 
first lady. She was such a compelling and popular figure that she acted 
as hostess for the widowed President, Thomas Jefferson, while her 
husband served as his Secretary of State. Thus, Dolley Madison's term 
as First Lady effectively extended from 1801 to 1817--over 16 years. 
Historians have maintained that Dolley Madison is the most famous and 
beloved of all the first ladies of the 19th century. She was the most 
important women in Washington through the years of Thomas Jefferson's 
administration as well as Madison's. By nature kind, ebullient, and 
gracious--and married to a very shy man--Dolley Madison took on the 
responsibility of organizing the social activities that are essential 
to the affairs of state. In so doing, she set the standard for every 
first lady to come. This was more than throwing nice parties--it was 
the bridge between the work of official Washington and the private 
social life of the President and his family.
  Dolley Madison was also a woman of action and decisiveness. During 
the War of 1812, when invading British troops burned the White House, 
Dolley Madison, at great personal risk, saved many important documents, 
books, and other materials from the White House, including an historic 
portrait of George Washington which she saved by rolling it up in a 
curtain as she departed. Dolley Madison's patriotism and civic bravery 
during this crisis of war were an inspiration to all and provided a 
much needed boost of morale to our beleaguered capital.
  Dolley Madison was forced to sell the 2,700 acre estate at Montpelier 
in 1844. The estate changed hands 7 times before being bequeathed to 
the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1984. Today, Montpelier 
consists of 2,700 acres: the 75 room main house, over 130 outbuildings, 
significant garden and landscape features, 800 acres of pasture and 
woodlands, and 200 acres of old-growth forest which have been 
identified as a national natural landmark.
  Funds from the Dolley Madison commemorative coin, after the U.S. Mint 
recovers all its costs, will be used to preserve James and Dolley 
Madison's estate, Montpelier. The 5-year plan envisioned by the 
National Trust for Historic Preservation will include a Montpelier 
museum and the Madison center which will join forces to serve and 
educate the visiting public.
  Mr. President, I strongly urge all Members to support this important 
legislation honoring these two great Americans and making possible the 
continued education of the American people about their accomplishments 
and contributions to our Nation.

                          ____________________