[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6738-S6740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:
  S. 2517. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
coins in commemoration of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of 
the United States; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I introduce the ``Ronald Wilson

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Reagan Commemorative Coin Act of 2004.''
  This bill is the same as one I introduced in the 107th Congress, and 
would accomplish two worthy goals. First, it would help honor Ronald 
Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, and the many 
worthy contributions he made to this nation. Second, it would also help 
raise much needed resources to help families across the United States 
provide care for their loved ones who have been stricken by Alzheimer's 
disease.
  This legislation's timeliness is obviously without question, as we as 
a nation honor Ronald Reagan this week and mourn his passing. The 
worthiness of the bill also goes without question. Most of us have seen 
Nancy Reagan discuss her husband's illness. Watching Mrs. Reagan as she 
has so openly and eloquently shared touching insights about their 
struggle with Alzheimer's disease has always been very moving. There is 
no doubt about the truly deep bonds that united Ronald and Nancy Reagan 
and that we need to continue to do what we can to fight the disease 
that slowly took it's terrible toll on the Reagans and so many other 
American families.
  Ronald Reagan wore many hats in his life, including endeavors as a 
sports announcer, actor, governor and President of the United States. 
He was first elected president in 1980 and served two terms, becoming 
the first president to serve two full terms since Dwight Eisenhower.
  His boundless optimism and deep-seated belief in the people of the 
United States and the American Dream helped restore our Nation's pride 
in itself and brought about a new ``Morning in America.'' His challenge 
to Gorbachev to ``tear down this wall,'' his successful revival of our 
economic power, his determination to rebuild our armed forces in order 
to contain the spread of communism, and his international summitry 
skills as seen at Reykjavik, Iceland, combined to help bring an end to 
the Cold War. Ronald Reagan left our Nation in much better shape than 
it was in when he took office.
  As Alzheimer's sets in, brain cells gradually deteriorate and die. 
People afflicted by the disease gradually lose their cognitive ability. 
Patients eventually become completely helpless and dependent on those 
around them for even the most basic daily needs. Each of the millions 
of Americans who is now affected will eventually, barring new 
discoveries in treatment, lose their ability to remember recent and 
past events, family and friends, even simple things like how to take a 
bath or turn on lights. Ronald Reagan, one of the most courageous and 
optimistic Presidents in American history, was no exception.
  Shortly after being shot in an assassination attempt, Ronald Reagan's 
courage and good humor in the face of a life threatening situation were 
evident when he famously apologized to his wife Nancy saying ``Sorry 
honey. I forgot to duck.'' Unfortunately, once Alzheimer's disease 
takes hold, it delivers a slow mind destroying bullet that none of us 
can duck to avoid. As Ronald Reagan wrote shortly after learning of his 
diagnosis ``I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from 
this painful experience.'' From the moment of diagnosis, it's ``a truly 
long, long, goodbye,'' Nancy Reagan said.
  Fortunately for all of us, when Ronald Reagan courageously announced 
in such an honest and public manner that he had Alzheimer's, rather 
than covering it up, he did a great deal to help alleviate the negative 
stigma that has long faced those suffering from this terrible disease. 
Much of the shame and pity traditionally associated with Alzheimer's 
was transformed almost overnight into sympathy and understanding as 
public awareness suddenly shot up and those suffering from Alzheimer's, 
and their families, knew that they were not alone.
  While Ronald Reagan's health didn't deteriorate right away, according 
to Mrs. Reagan, he had his good days and bad days, ``just like 
everybody else.'' In recent years, however, Reagan's condition 
completely deteriorated--and quickly. ``It's frightening and it's 
cruel,'' Nancy said, speaking of the disease and what it has done to 
her husband and family. ``It's sad to see somebody you love and have 
been married to for so long, with Alzheimer's, and you can't share 
memories,'' Mrs. Reagan said.
  In the introduction to a recently released book based on the touching 
love letters exchanged between herself and Reagan, Nancy elaborated on 
her sense of loss when she wrote, ``You know that it's a progressive 
disease and that there's no place to go but down, no light at the end 
of the tunnel. You get tired and frustrated, because you have no 
control and you feel helpless.'' She also said, ``There are so many 
memories that I can no longer share, which makes it very difficult.''
  Nancy Reagan has earned our Nation's admiration for her steadfast and 
loving dedication to her husband as she watched her beloved husband 
slowly fade away. Likewise, families all across our Nation, day in and 
day out, choose to personally provide care for their loved ones 
suffering from Alzheimer's, rather than putting them in institutions. 
They deserve our respect and support.
  Fortunately, Mrs. Reagan has had access to vital resources that 
helped her care for her husband. This is how it should be. 
Unfortunately, there are many American families out there who do not 
have access to these resources. This bill will help alleviate that by 
raising money to help American families who are struggling while 
providing care for their loved ones.
  Funding for Alzheimer's research has increased significantly over the 
past several years. Ronald Reagan's courage in coming forward and 
publicly announcing his condition played an important role in raising 
public awareness of Alzheimer's and paved the way for the recent 
increases in research funding. But much more needs to be done and this 
bill would complement these efforts.
  Once again, the legislation I am introducing today authorizes the 
U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins honoring Ronald W. Reagan 
while raising funds to help families care for their family members 
suffering from Alzheimer's disease. I urge my colleagues to support 
passage of this legislation.
  Ronald Reagan's eternal optimism and deep seated belief in an even 
better future for our Nation was underscored when he said. ``I know 
that for America, there will always be a bright future ahead.'' In 
honoring him this week, and in honoring his struggle, this bill, in 
keeping with this quote's spirit, will help provide for a better future 
for many American families.
  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. 2517

       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 ``Ronald Reagan Commemorative 
     Coin Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

       (a) Denominations.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
     (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') 
     shall mint and issue the following coins:
       (1) $5 Gold coins.--Not more than 100,000 $5 coins, which 
     shall--
       (A) weigh 8.359 grams;
       (B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
       (C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.
       (2) $1 Silver coins.--Not more than 500,000 $1 coins, 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) Bimetallic Coins.--The Secretary may mint and issue not 
     more than 200,000 $10 bimetallic coins of gold and platinum 
     instead of the gold coins required under subsection (a)(1), 
     in accordance with such specifications as the Secretary 
     determines to be appropriate.
       (c) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be 
     legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United 
     States Code.

     SEC. 3. SOURCES OF BULLION.

       (a) Platinum and Gold.--The Secretary shall obtain platinum 
     and gold for minting coins under this Act from available 
     sources.
       (b) Silver.--The Secretary may obtain silver for minting 
     coins under this Act from stockpiles established under the 
     Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act and from 
     other available sources.

     SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.

       (a) Design Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this 
     Act shall--
       (A) be emblematic of the presidency and life of former 
     President Ronald Wilson Reagan;

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       (B) bear the likeness of former President Ronald Reagan on 
     the obverse side; and
       (C) bear a design on the reverse side that is similar to 
     the depiction of an American eagle carrying an olive branch, 
     flying above a nest containing another eagle and hatchlings, 
     as depicted on the 2001 American Eagle Gold Proof coins.
       (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 ``2005''; and
       (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We 
     Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus 
     Unum''.
       (b) Design Selection.--The design for the coins minted 
     under this Act shall be--
       (1) selected by the Secretary, after consultation with 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 one 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.--The Secretary may issue coins 
     minted under this Act only during the period beginning on 
     January 1, 2005 and ending on December 31, 2005.

     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 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) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the 
     coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
       (c) 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.
       (d) Surcharges.--All sales of coins issued under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge established by the Secretary, in an 
     amount equal to not more than--
       (1) $50 per coin for the $10 coin or $35 per coin for the 
     $5 coin; and
       (2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin.

     SEC. 7. DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES.

       (a) In General.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, 
     United States Code, the proceeds from the surcharges received 
     by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act 
     shall be paid promptly by the Secretary to the Department of 
     Health and Human Services to be used by the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services for the purposes of--
       (1) providing grants to charitable organizations that 
     assist families in their efforts to provide care at home to a 
     family member with Alzheimer's disease; and
       (2) increasing awareness and educational outreach regarding 
     Alzheimer's disease.
       (b) Audits.--Any organization or entity that receives funds 
     from the Secretary of Health and Human Services under 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to the audit requirements of 
     section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with 
     regard to such funds.

     SEC. 8. 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, the deposits of 
     which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance 
     Corporation or the National Credit Union Administration 
     Board.

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