[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9120-S9121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON:
  S. 1379. 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; to the Committee on 
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the American 
Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act of 2003. This bill 
will authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a commemorative 
coin honoring the millions of veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who 
were disabled while serving our country. Revenues from the surcharge on 
the coin would go to the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to 
help cover the costs of building the American Veterans Disabled for 
Life Memorial in Washington, DC.
  The three-acre site for the Memorial is located on Washington Avenue 
at 2nd Street, SW., across from the U.S. Botanic Gardens, and in full 
view of the U.S. Capitol Building. Federal legislation for the 
Memorial, Public Law 106-348, was signed into law by President Bill 
Clinton on October 24, 2000. Sponsors included Senator John McCain, 
Senator Max Cleland, Congressman Sam Johnson, and Congressman Jack 
Murtha. The National Capital Planning Commission unanimously approved 
the Capitol Hill location on October 10, 2001.
  The mission of the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation is to 
commemorate the selfless and continuing sacrifice of America's 2.3 
million living disabled veterans, ensuring they will always be 
remembered; to provide all Americans with a place to express their 
appreciation for the men and women who came home from war bearing the 
scars of our great Nation's defense, and to serve as an eternal 
reminder of disabled veterans' honor, service, and sacrifice.
  Recent events have brought about a renewed reverence and respect for 
the men and women who gave so much in service of our Nation. This 
legislation would help bring national attention to America's disabled 
veterans, and would serve as a fitting tribute to their sacrifice.
  The Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation was co-founded in 1996 
by the Lois Pope Life Foundation and the Disabled American Veterans. 
Lois Pope, one of America's leading philanthropists, is the founder and 
President of the Lois Pope Leaders in Furthering Education Foundation. 
In addition to supporting veterans programs, this organization provides 
awards for medical research, scholarships, and summer camp programs. 
Formed in 1920, the Disabled American Veterans is a nonprofit 
organization representing America's disabled veterans, their families, 
and survivors.
  The drive to build the Memorial, which is scheduled for completion 
within the next several years, is well under way, but has a long way to 
go. Prominent national figures including Retired Army General H. Norman 
Schwarzkopf, Poet Laureate Dr. Maya Angelou, and New York Giants star 
defensive end Michael Strahan are lending their support to this effort.
  We have an obligation to assure that men and women who each day 
endure the cost of freedom are never forgotten. The American Veterans 
Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act of 2003 will honor these 
veterans and help fund the American Veterans Disabled for Life 
Memorial. I ask my colleagues in the Senate to join me in supporting 
America's disabled veterans with this important legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1379

       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 Veterans Disabled 
     for Life Commemorative Coin Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (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

[[Page S9121]]

     minting and issuing a commemorative silver dollar coin; and
       (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.

     SEC. 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 500,000 $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 section 5134 of 
     title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act 
     shall be considered to be numismatic items.

     SEC. 4. SOURCES OF BULLION.

       The Secretary shall obtain silver for minting coins under 
     this Act only from stockpiles established under the Strategic 
     and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.

     SEC. 5. 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 ``2006''; 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.

     SEC. 6. 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) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins 
     under this Act only during the calendar year beginning on 
     January 1, 2006.

     SEC. 7. 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 subsection (d) 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) Surcharges.--All sales of coins issued under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin.
       (c) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the 
     coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
       (d) 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.

     SEC. 8. DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES.

       (a) In General.--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.
       (b) 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 (a).

     SEC. 9. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.

       (a) No Net Cost to the Government.--The Secretary shall 
     take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that minting 
     and issuing coins under this Act will not result in any net 
     cost to the United States Government.
       (b) Payment for Coins.--A coin shall not be issued under 
     this Act unless the Secretary has received--
       (1) full payment for the coin;
       (2) security satisfactory to the Secretary to indemnify the 
     United States for full payment; or
       (3) a guarantee of full payment satisfactory to the 
     Secretary from a depository institution whose deposits are 
     insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the 
     National Credit Union Administration Board.
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