[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 100 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H5019-H5021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICAN 5-CENT COIN DESIGN CONTINUITY ACT OF 2002
Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 4903) to amend title 31, United States Code, to specify that the
reverse of the 5-cent piece shall bear an image of Monticello, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4903
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 ``American 5-Cent Coin Design
Continuity Act of 2002''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNS ON THE 5-CENT COIN COMMEMORATING THE
BICENTENNIAL OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b) and after
consulting with the Coin Design Advisory Committee and the
Commission of Fine Arts, the Secretary of the Treasury may
change the design on the obverse and the reverse of the 5-
cent coin for coins issued in 2003, 2004, and 2005 in
commemoration of the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase.
(b) Design Specifications.--
(1) Obverse.--If the Secretary of the Treasury elects to
change the obverse of 5-cent coins issued during 2003, 2004,
and 2005, the design shall include an image of President
Thomas Jefferson in commemoration of his role with respect to
the Louisiana Purchase and the commissioning of the Louis and
Clark Expedition to explore the newly acquired territory.
(2) Reverse.--If the Secretary of the Treasury elects to
change the reverse of the 5-cent coins issued during 2003,
2004, and 2005, the design selected shall commemorate the
Louisiana Purchase.
(3) Other inscriptions.--5-cent coins issued during 2003,
2004, and 2005 shall continue to meet all other requirements
for inscriptions and designations applicable to circulating
coins under section 5112(d)(1) of title 31, United States
Code.
SEC. 3. DESIGNS ON THE 5-CENT COIN SUBSEQUENT TO THE
COMMEMORATION OF THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE
LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
(a) In General.--Section 5112(d)(1) of title 31, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after the 4th sentence
the following new sentences: ``The obverse of any 5-cent coin
issued after December 31, 2005, shall bear an image of Thomas
Jefferson. The reverse of any 5-cent coin issued after
December 31, 2005, shall bear an image of the home of Thomas
Jefferson at Monticello.''.
(b) Design Consultation.-- The 2d sentence of section
5112(d)(2) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by
inserting ``, after consulting with the Coin Design Advisory
Committee and the Commission of Fine Arts,'' after ``The
Secretary may''.
SEC. 4. COIN DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 51 of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section
5136 (as amended by section 5 of this Act) the following new
section:
``Sec. 5137. Coin Design Advisory Committee
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the Coin
Design Advisory Committee (in this section referred to as the
``Advisory Committee'').
[[Page H5020]]
``(b) Membership.--
(1) Appointment.--The Advisory Committee shall consist of 9
members, as follows:
``(A) The Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Treasury.
``(B) 4 persons appointed by the President--
``(i) 1 of whom shall be appointed for a term of 4 years
from among individuals who are specially qualified to serve
on the Advisory Committee by virtue of their education,
training, or experience as a nationally or internationally
recognized curator in the United States of a numismatic
collection;
``(ii) 1 of whom shall be appointed for a term of 4 years
from among individuals who are specially qualified to serve
on the Advisory Committee by virtue of their experience in
the medallic arts or sculpture;
``(iii) 1 of whom shall be appointed for a term of 3 years
from among individuals who are specially qualified to serve
on the Advisory Committee by virtue of their education,
training, or experience in American history; and
``(iv) 1 of whom shall be appointed for a term of 2 years
from among individuals who are specially qualified to serve
on the Advisory Committee by virtue of their education,
training, or experience in numismatics.
``(C) 1 person appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives from among individuals who are specially
qualified to serve on the Advisory Committee by virtue of
their education, training, or experience, including staff
employees of the House of Representatives, who shall serve at
the pleasure of the Speaker.
``(D) 1 person appointed by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives from among individuals who are
specially qualified to serve on the Advisory Committee by
virtue of their education, training, or experience, including
staff employees of the House of Representatives, who shall
serve at the pleasure of the minority leader.
``(E) 1 person appointed by the majority leader of the
Senate from among individuals who are specially qualified to
serve on the Advisory Committee by virtue of their education,
training, or experience, including staff employees of the
Senate, who shall serve at the pleasure of the majority
leader.
``(F) 1 person appointed by the minority leader of the
Senate from among individuals who are specially qualified to
serve on the Advisory Committee by virtue of their education,
training, or experience, including staff employees members of
the Senate, who shall serve at the pleasure of the minority
leader.
``(2) Continuation of service.--Each appointed member may
continue to serve after the expiration of the term of office
to which such member was appointed until a successor has been
appointed and qualified.
``(3) Vacancy.--
``(A) In general.--Any vacancy on the Advisory Committee
shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.
``(B) Acting officials may serve.--In the event of a
vacancy in a position described in paragraph (1)(A), and
pending the appointment of a successor, or during the absence
or disability of any individual serving in any such position,
any individual serving in an acting capacity in any such
position may serve on the Advisory Committee while serving in
such capacity.
``(4) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Advisory
Committee shall be the person serving in the position
described in paragraph (1)(A) (or serving in an acting
capacity in such position).
``(5) Pay and expenses.--Members of the Advisory Committee
shall serve without pay for such service but each member of
the Advisory Committee shall be reimbursed from the United
States Mint Public Enterprise Fund for expenses incurred in
connection with attendance of such members at meetings of the
Advisory Committee.
``(6) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall meet, not
less frequently than quarterly, at the call of the
chairperson or a majority of the members.
``(7) Quorum.--7 members of the Advisory Committee shall
constitute a quorum.
``(c) Duties of the Advisory Committee.--The duties of the
Advisory Committee are as follows:
``(1) Advise the Secretary of the Treasury on any design
proposals relating to circulating coinage and numismatic
items, including congressional gold medals.
``(2) Advise the Secretary of the Treasury with regard to
any other proposals or issues relating to any items produced
by the United States Mint that the Secretary may request of
the Advisory Committee.
``(d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of
the Advisory Committee, the Director of the United States
Mint shall provide to the Advisory Committee the
administrative support services necessary for the Advisory
Committee to carry out its responsibilities under this
section.
``(e) Annual Report.--
``(1) Required.--Not later than January 30 of each year,
the Advisory Committee shall submit a report to the Committee
on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
Senate.
``(2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
describe the activities of the Advisory Committee during the
preceding year and the reports and recommendations made by
the Advisory Committee to the Secretary of the Treasury.
``(f) Federal Advisory Committee Act Does Not Apply.--The
Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply with respect
to the Committee, except that each meeting of the Advisory
Committee shall be open to the public following publication
of a notice of the meeting in the Federal Register.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. King) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).
General Leave
Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on this legislation, and to insert extraneous material on the bill,
H.R. 4903.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge passage of H.R. 4903, the Keep Monticello
on the Nickel Act, introduced by the distinguished gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Cantor) with the bipartisan sponsorship of the Virginia
delegation.
As the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) will describe in more
detail, the bill allows for the redesign of the 5-cent coin for the
years 2003, 2004, and 2005 to recognize the importance of the Louisiana
Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition that began 200 years ago
next year.
The bill specifies that all redesigned coins shall bear the image of
Thomas Jefferson on the face or obverse and that in 2006 and thereafter
the coin bear the image of Jefferson on the obverse and of his home,
Monticello, on the reverse. The images of Jefferson may be different
and the view of Monticello that returns to the coin might differ from
the current one.
Mr. Speaker, the bill also contains numerous other provision which
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) will describe.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to manage time on the Keep Monticello on
the Nickel Act, legislation that preserves the portrait of Monticello
on the nickel.
All Americans are familiar with the role that Thomas Jefferson played
in our Nation's founding. Jefferson was the third President of the
United States, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and the
founder of the University of Virginia. One of the foremost
intellectuals in American history, Jefferson produced many of his
finest writings at Monticello, his picturesque mansion outside of
Charlottesville; and it is appropriate that we preserve the mansion on
our Nation's coinage.
Our distinguished colleague from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) has put
forward a plan to mint to commemorate the plans of Lewis and Clark for
3 years and revert to the Monticello for 2006. That is a reasonable
compromise. We support the Cantor legislation. I urge my colleagues to
support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the sponsor of the legislation.
Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 4903
that would authorize the U.S. Mint to redesign the nickel for 3 years
to recognize the Lewis and Clark expedition and to ensure Monticello,
the Virginia estate of Thomas Jefferson, has its place on the reverse
side of the nickel after 2005.
Additionally, Mr. Speaker, the bill would authorize and establish a
Citizen's Coin Design Advisory Committee that would report directly to
the Secretary of the Treasury. The purpose of this committee would be
to advise the Secretary on the design or redesign of coins and metals
providing a broad range of input from professional and citizen
representatives.
Mr. Speaker, I introduced this legislation after representatives from
the Mint came to my office and informed me that the imagine of Thomas
Jefferson's Monticello would be removed from the reverse side of the
nickel and would be replaced by the image of a Native American and an
eagle facing
[[Page H5021]]
westward to recognize the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark
expedition. The Treasury Department has the authority to change the
nickel once every 25 years. It was the intent that this new design be
presented as the replacement for Monticello.
I learned further that this new design was chosen internally at the
U.S. Mint with no input from Congress or the American people. Even more
striking, I was shocked to learn that the Mint planned to announce this
redesign in just 10 days from our meeting.
As a proud Virginian and American, I was concerned about the Mint's
plan because Jefferson's beloved Monticello represented so much to the
people of the Commonwealth of Virginia and, for that matter, to all
Americans. I also feared that the new design and the process by which
it was conceived was reminiscent of the failed Sacagawea one-dollar
coin experience.
Monticello is the autobiographical masterpiece of Thomas Jefferson or
as he called it, his ``essay in architecture,'' and is recognized as an
international treasure. Monticello, ``little mountain'' in Italian, is
the only home in America on the World Heritage List of Sites that must
be protected at all costs. It is there that Jefferson assumed his place
in history, shaping, debating, and producing his prolific writings on
the topics of liberty, democracy, and equality for all.
In America after September 11 we all know that these are the very
principals that are under attack by the radical terrorists and their
global organizations.
H.R. 4903 authorizes the U.S. Mint to implement an interim design
change on the reverse side of the nickel for the years 2003, 2004, and
2005 in order to recognize the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark
expedition. In 2006, Monticello will once again resume its place on the
5-cent piece. Additionally, so that the American people will not
experience another Sacagawea debacle, my bill provides a mechanism to
ensure public input to this or any redesign of our coinage.
The bill creates a nine-member coin design advisory committee which
will make recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury as to the
appropriate designs for the Lewis and Clark series. It will review all
designs or redesigns of circulating and commemorative coins and of
Congressional Gold Medal ideas that the Mint is assigned with. This
committee will be made up of a coin collector, an internationally
recognized coin museum curator, an expert in American history, and
either a sculptor or a medallic artist, all appointed by the President,
as well as four persons named by the leadership of the House and the
Senate.
This committee will be able to provide the Secretary of the Treasury
with a broad range of expertise and input to ensure that any redesign
or circulating coinage as well as the design for commemorative coins or
Congressional Gold Medals be artistically appropriate and consistent
with broad American themes and values.
Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a positive step forward, and I urge
my colleagues to support H.R. 4903 today.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong
support of H.R. 4903, the Keep Monticello on the Nickel Act. for nearly
65 years, the image of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello has graced our
Nation's nickel. This legislation, introduced by my friend and
colleague from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mr. Cantor, is a win-win.
It ensures that Monticello has a permanent home on the five-cent piece,
and also recognizes the need for a fair and open process to evaluate
other commemorative coinage efforts, such as the one honoring the
bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark
expedition.
Mr. Speaker, as you know, Thomas Jefferson was the author of the
Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious
Freedom, the third president of the United States and the founder of
the University of Virginia. He voiced the aspirations of a new America
as no other individual of his era. From his home in Monticello,
Jefferson served his country for over five decades.
Monticello is more than a classic piece of architecture; its
significance even supercedes the fact that it is the only house in the
United States on the United Nation's prestigious World Heritage List of
sites. It is more: a symbol of Jefferson's age of optimism, of all that
was and is great about America. It is, quite simply, Jefferson's
autobiographical masterpiece.
Mr. Cantor's legislation strikes a reasonable balance. It provides
for nickel redesigns in 2003 and 2004 to commemorate both the Louisiana
Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition, returning Monticello to
the reverse side of the coin in 2005. The legislation also establishes
a Congressionally-appointed advisory board, whose responsibility it
will be to advise the Secretary of the Treasury on any proposed changes
to U.S. coins.
I join my fellow Members of the Virginia Delegation in urging all
Members to support H.R. 4903, to allow for a three-year recognition of
one of Jefferson's greatest accomplishments, the Louisiana Purchase,
before returning to the foundation of all of his successes, Monticello.
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. King) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 4903, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``To ensure
continuity for the design of the 5-cent coin, establish the Coin Design
Advisory Committee, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________