[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 14, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H5775-H5777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       JAMESTOWN 400TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT OF 2003

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1914) to provide for the issuance of a coin to commemorate 
the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1914

       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 ``Jamestown 400th Anniversary 
     Commemorative Coin Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The founding of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, in 
     1607, the first permanent English colony in America, and the 
     capital of Virginia for 92 years, has major significance in 
     the history of the United States.
       (2) The Jamestown Settlement brought people from throughout 
     the Atlantic Basin together to form a society that drew upon 
     the strengths and characteristics of English, European, 
     African, and Native American cultures.
       (3) The economic, political, religious, and social 
     institutions that developed during the first 9 decades of the 
     existence of Jamestown continue to have profound effects on 
     the United States, particularly in English common law and 
     language, cross cultural relationships, manufacturing, and 
     economic structure and status.
       (4) The National Park Service, the Association for the 
     Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the Jamestown-
     Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia 
     collectively own and operate significant resources related to 
     the early history of Jamestown.
       (5) In 2000, Congress established the Jamestown 400th 
     Commemoration Commission to ensure a suitable national 
     observance of the Jamestown 2007 anniversary and to support 
     and facilitate marketing efforts for a commemorative coin, 
     stamp, and related activities for the Jamestown 2007 
     observances.
       (6) A commemorative coin will bring national and 
     international attention to the lasting legacy of Jamestown, 
     Virginia.
       (7) The proceeds from a surcharge on the sale of such 
     commemorative coin will assist the financing of a suitable 
     national observance in 2007 of the 400th anniversary of the 
     founding of Jamestown, Virginia.

     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 dollar 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 dollar 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) 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 sections 5134 and 
     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 shall obtain gold and silver for minting 
     coins under this Act pursuant to the authority of the 
     Secretary under other provisions of law.

     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 settlement of Jamestown, 
     Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in America.
       (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 ``2007''; 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--
       (A) the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee, created by the 
     Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of 
     Virginia;
       (B) the National Park Service; and
       (C) the Commission of Fine Arts; and
       (2) reviewed by the citizens advisory committee established 
     under section 5135 of title 31, United States Code.

     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 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, 2007, and ending on December 31, 2007.

     SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.

       (a) Sale Price.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the 
     Secretary at a price equal to the face value, plus the cost 
     of designing and issuing such coins (including labor, 
     materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, and 
     marketing).
       (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.

     SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.

       (a) Surcharge Required.--All sales shall include a 
     surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coins and $10 per coin 
     for the $1 coins.
       (b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, 
     United States Code, all surcharges which are received by the 
     Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall 
     be promptly paid by the Secretary as follows:
       (1) Programs to promote understanding of the legacies of 
     jamestown.--\1/2\ of the surcharges shall be used to support 
     programs to promote the understanding of the legacies of 
     Jamestown and for such purpose shall be paid to the 
     Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of 
     Virginia.
       (2) Other purposes for surcharges.--
       (A) In general.--\1/2\ of the surcharges shall be used for 
     the following purposes:
       (i) To sustain the ongoing mission of preserving Jamestown.

[[Page H5776]]

       (ii) To enhance national and international educational 
     programs relating to Jamestown, Virginia.
       (iii) To improve infrastructure and archaeological research 
     activities relating to Jamestown, Virginia.
       (iv) To conduct other programs to support the commemoration 
     of the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown, 
     Virginia.
       (B) Recipients of surcharges for such other purposes.--The 
     surcharges referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be 
     distributed by the Secretary in equal shares to the following 
     organizations for the purposes described in such 
     subparagraph:
       (i) The Secretary of the Interior.
       (ii) The Association for the Preservation of Virginia 
     Antiquities.
       (iii) The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth 
     of Virginia.
       (c) Audits.--The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the 
     Commonwealth of Virginia, the Secretary of the Interior, and 
     the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities 
     shall each be subject to the audit requirements of section 
     5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code.
       (d) Limitation.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), no 
     surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under 
     this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the 
     time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result 
     in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during 
     such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program 
     issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, 
     United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment 
     of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue 
     guidance to carry out this subsection.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr. Castle) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).


                             General Leave

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on this legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Harris). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Delaware?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  2215

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1914, the Jamestown 
400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003, introduced by the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), and ask for its 
immediate passage.
  The legislation authorizes the minting and sale in 2007 of gold $5 
coins and silver $1 coins commemorating the 400th anniversary of the 
founding in 1607 of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent European 
colony in the United States and the capital of Virginia for 92 years.
  The economic, political, social and cultural institutions that 
developed in the Jamestown Settlement, which brought together people 
from throughout the Atlantic basin, left profound effects on the United 
States, establishing the traditions of English common law and the 
English language, as well as cross-cultural relationships.
  I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Virginia, whom we will 
call on to speak here in moment, because it is all of her work with the 
planning committee that made all this possible.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation was passed by voice vote in both the 
subcommittee and the full Committee on Financial Services, and I do ask 
for immediate passage of this important legislation, which I am pleased 
to cosponsor.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume, and I want to thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. 
Castle).
  Madam Speaker, I rise to support House Resolution 1914, which is the 
Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003. The year 
2007 will be the 400th anniversary of the founding in 1607 of 
Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent European colony in the United 
States and the capital of Virginia for 92 years. H.R. 1914 authorizes 
the minting and sale of commemorative coins honoring this distinguished 
event.
  The Jamestown Settlement, which brought together people from 
throughout the Atlantic basin, had a substantial impact open the 
development of the United States of American, establishing the 
tradition of English common law and the English language, as well as 
cross-cultural relationships.
  Congress established the Jamestown 400th Commemorative Commission in 
2000 to ensure a suitable national observation of the founding. 
Surcharges from the sale of the commemorative coins, which are 
conservatively estimated to be $3 million, will be paid to the National 
Park Service, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia 
Antiquities, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth 
of Virginia to support their efforts for the 400th anniversary.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1914, the Jamestown 400th 
Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), the sponsor of this 
resolution before us.
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, in 2007, as you have 
heard, the United States will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the 
founding of the Jamestown Settlement. As has been said, it was the 
capital of Virginia for 92 years.
  It was at Jamestown that numerous American values and ideals came 
into being. Representative government was first established, private 
land ownership was permitted, and the spirit of free enterprise was 
born.
  Local, State, and national organizations are currently preparing for 
what will be a year-long commemoration of the quadricentennial. Efforts 
are underway to restore and preserve the settlement and to promote 
national and international educational programs that increase 
understanding of the democratic principles that were born here.
  Madam Speaker, I introduced this legislation authorizing the sale of 
commemorative coins in honor of the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown 
Settlement to help offset the cost of this occasion. The proceeds from 
the sale of these coins will be used to preserve the legacy of this 
first permanent English settlement. Jamestown is an important part of 
our Nation's history, with profound effects on the United States, even 
to this date.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to represent this historic Jamestown 
Settlement located in America's first district.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank all the Members of the committee 
and the chairman for bringing this bill forward. I would like to also 
thank the 299 of my colleagues who cosponsored this bill.
  I urge all my colleagues to support its passage.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my 
colleagues in support of H.R. 1914, the Jamestown 400th Anniversary 
Commemorative Coin Act of 2003. In 2007, the world will observe the 
400th anniversary of the landing at Jamestown--a place and time where 
the cultures of North America, Europe and Africa converged, initiating 
and testing the unique values that ultimately created our nation. The 
success of the Jamestown settlement set in motion the establishment of 
a democratic form of government, private land ownership, free 
enterprise, entrepreneurship--all of which continue to evolve into our 
uniquely American society. The stories at Jamestown offer Americans a 
timely and timeless lesson in patriotism.
  Historic Jamestown is America's birthplace. Ongoing research is 
rewriting our understanding of this significant opening chapter in 
American history. Moreover, studies reveal vast new knowledge about the 
interactions between peoples, their genealogy, their struggles and 
their survival to create a new society.
  In short, I believe this coin will help to ensure the cultural 
preservation and educational programs based on the legacies of 
Jamestown will be sustained and expanded well into the future. I 
commend the sponsors and leadership for bringing this to the floor and 
urge the passage of this resolution.
  Mr. OXLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1914, the 
``Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003,'' 
authored by the gentle lady from Virginia, Mrs. Davis, and ask for its 
immediate passage.
  Madam Speaker, it is easy to lose sight of the importance of the 
founding of Jamestown. Of course, it was the first permanent European 
settlement in what is now the United

[[Page H5777]]

States. But from its earliest days, Jamestown fused the cultures of 
Europe, of the natives of America, and of the Caribbean, establishing a 
tradition of diversity and respect for others, as well as the 
traditions of English common law. In a very important way, the colony 
was not only the toehold of Europe, but the seed from which a new and 
truly American--not a replica European--society was formed.
  It is for that reason that I wholeheartedly support this legislation. 
The educational efforts and the archaeological efforts that would be 
funded by the surcharges generated by the sales of the coins authorized 
in this legislation will be an important way to remind us, our 
children, and those who come long after of the importance of this 
colony.
  I would like to congratulate Mrs. Davis for her legislation and for 
all the hard work to get the co-sponsorship of more than two-thirds of 
this body, and as well thank Chairman Thomas for his help in expediting 
consideration of the bill. With that, I urge immediate passage of this 
legislation.
  Mr. SCHROCK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Jamestown 
400th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.
  In December 1606 over 100 explorers left England in the spirit of 
exploration and discovery. They finally reached land on April 26, 1607 
at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. These explorers landed in Virginia 
Beach, Virginia at a spot they named ``Cape Henry.''
  Upon setting foot on solid ground, George Percy proclaimed, ``fair 
meadows and goodly tall trees, with such fresh waters running through 
the woods as I was almost ravished at the sight thereof.'' The Second 
District of Virginia is still home to these fresh waters and tall trees 
that the settlers were so relieved to see.
  After resting here for 3 days and erecting a cross, at the 
instruction of Captain Newport, the settlers continued their journey up 
the James River to eventually find a home at Jamestown. Today, a cross 
still stands on this historic beach in Fort Story in Virginia Beach, 
commemorating this landing and memorializing the end of one journey but 
the beginning of another.
  The first months in their new home proved to be an invariable 
struggle but by 1607 they had created the first permanent English 
settlement in the new world, Jamestown. Their will to survive coupled 
with help from their neighbors, the Virginia Indians, facilitated the 
Jamestown settlers in their quest to start a new life.
  The 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown will be 
celebration for all of Virginia. Rich in history, the Commonwealth of 
Virginia has always offered many opportunities for its residents and 
visitors alike to explore the wealth of history that helped shape our 
great nation. The 400th Anniversary Jamestown Commemorative Coin will 
benefit both Jamestown and the entire Commonwealth of Virginia by 
reaffirming our dedication to the preservation of history. This coin 
will help Virginia share this rich history with the rest of America and 
let us all celebrate this terrific anniversary.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia, Mrs. Davis, for her work on 
this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Harris). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1914, 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.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________