[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 136 (Friday, October 8, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12319-S12320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HARKIN (for himself and Mr. Grams):
  S. 1710. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
coins in conjunction with the minting of coins by the Republic of 
Iceland in commemoration of the millennium of the discovery of the New 
World by Leif Ericson; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.


             leif ericson millennium commemorative coin act

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Leif Ericson 
Millennium Commemorative Coin Act along with my colleague Senator Rod 
Grams from Minnesota. This bipartisan legislation would authorize the 
U.S. Mint to issue a coin jointly with the Icelandic National Bank in 
commemoration of Leif Ericson and his voyage and exploration of North 
America. The famous Viking explorer is regarded as the first European 
to set foot on North American soil in the year 1000 AD. Next year marks 
the 1000th anniversary of Leif Ericson's Voyage of Discovery and this 
coin will commemorate this landmark event in North American history. 
This same legislation passed the House on July 19, 1999, and passed 
both the House and the Senate as amendments during the 105th Congress.
  The Government of Iceland is an important North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO) ally and this action would reiterate our strong 
relationship with and support for their nation. Iceland votes with the 
United States on virtually all United Nations and NATO issues and has 
formulated foreign policies parallel to ours. They also are cutting 
costs at our military base in Keflavi. Iceland has refrained from 
whaling, encouraged more U.S. trade and investment and initiated a 
partnership with the State of Alaska. The Government of Iceland has 
already approved a silver 1000 Kronor Icelandic coin to be produced by 
the U.S. Mint that will be packaged and issued simultaneously with the 
U.S. Leif Ericson Commemorative Coin. We believe jointly issuing these 
coins will help further relations between our nations.
  Mr. President, the United States Congress strengthened United States-
Icelandic relations by presenting a Leif Ericson statue as a gift to 
Iceland in 1930 as a gesture of memorializing Ericson's Voyage of 
Discovery. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson made October 9 ``Leif 
Ericson Day'' in commemoration of this famous Norwegian Viking 
explorer. The Leif Ericson Commemorative Coin in the year 2000 would 
commemorate the millennial anniversary of Ericson's voyage and would 
display our commitment to continuing this relationship for the coming 
millennium.
  Mr. President, the Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Coin Act 
allows a simultaneous issuance of a commemorative U.S. silver dollar 
coin and a silver 1000 Kroner Icelandic coin. Both coins are to be 
produced in limited mintages, with U.S. Mint issuing a boxed set. Mint 
and surcharge proceeds from the coins will fund scholarships and 
student exchange programs between Iceland and United States. The U.S. 
Mint has read and approved the identical House version as meeting all 
the guidelines contained in the 1995 Congressional House Banking 
Committee Commemorative Coins Reforms Act, which protects the taxpayer 
from any costs. We feel such a coin is an important step in recognizing 
the important role Iceland has played in North American history. In the 
coming days, I will be talking to my colleagues in

[[Page S12320]]

joining me in supporting this legislation. Mr. President, I ask for 
unanimous consent for a copy of this bill to be included in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1710

       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 ``Leif Ericson Millennium 
     Commemorative Coin Act''.

     SEC. 2. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

       (a) $1 Silver Coins.--In conjunction with the simultaneous 
     minting and issuance of commemorative coins by the Republic 
     of Iceland in commemoration of the millennium of the 
     discovery of the New World by Leif Ericson, the Secretary of 
     the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
     ``Secretary'') shall mint and issue not more than 500,000 $1 
     coins, 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 section 5136 of 
     title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act 
     shall be considered to be numismatic items.

     SEC. 3. SOURCES OF BULLION.

       The Secretary may obtain silver for minting coins under 
     this Act from any available source, including stockpiles 
     established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock 
     Piling 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 millennium of the discovery of 
     the New World by Leif Ericson.
       (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 ``2000''; 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 
     Leifur Eirikson Foundation and the Commission of Fine Arts; 
     and
       (2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin 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 Facility.--Only 1 facility of the United States 
     Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the 
     coins minted under this Act.
       (c) Commencement of Issuance.--The Secretary may issue 
     coins minted under this Act beginning January 1, 2000.
       (d) Termination of Minting Authority.--No coins may be 
     minted under this Act after December 31, 2000.

     SEC. 6. SURCHARGES.

       (a) In General.--All sales of coins minted under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin.
       (b) Distribution.--All surcharges received by the Secretary 
     from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be 
     promptly paid by the Secretary to the Leifur Eirikson 
     Foundation for the purpose of funding student exchanges 
     between students of the United States and students of 
     Iceland.
       (c) Audits.--The Leifur Eirikson 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 by the Foundation under subsection (b).

     SEC. 7. GENERAL WAIVER OF PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no 
     provision of law governing procurement or public contracts 
     shall be applicable to the procurement of goods and services 
     necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
       (b) Equal Employment Opportunity.--Subsection (a) shall not 
     relieve any person entering into a contract under the 
     authority of this Act from complying with any law relating to 
     equal employment opportunity.
                                 ______