[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6246-H6248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIVE AMERICAN $1 COIN ACT

  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2358) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue 
coins in commemoration of Native Americans and the important 
contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to 
the development of the United States and the history of the United 
States, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2358

       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 ``Native American $1 Coin 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. NATIVE AMERICAN $1 COIN PROGRAM.

       Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(r) Redesign and Issuance of Circulating $1 Coins 
     Honoring Native Americans and the Important Contributions 
     Made by Indian Tribes and Individual Native Americans in 
     United States History.--
       ``(1) Redesign beginning in 2008.--
       ``(A) In general.--Effective beginning January 1, 2008, 
     notwithstanding subsection (d), in addition to the coins to 
     be issued pursuant to subsection (n), and in accordance with 
     this subsection, the Secretary shall mint and issue $1 coins 
     that--
       ``(i) have as the designs on the obverse the so-called 
     `Sakakawea design'; and
       ``(ii) have a design on the reverse selected in accordance 
     with paragraph (2)(A), subject to paragraph (3)(A).
       ``(B) Delayed date.--If the date of the enactment of the 
     Native American $1 Coin Act is after July 31, 2007, 
     subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting `2009' for 
     `2008'.

[[Page H6247]]

       ``(2) Design requirements.--The $1 coins issued in 
     accordance with paragraph (1) shall meet the following design 
     requirements:
       ``(A) Coin reverse.--The design on the reverse shall bear--
       ``(i) images celebrating the important contributions made 
     by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to the 
     development of the United States and the history of the 
     United States;
       ``(ii) the inscription `$1' ; and
       ``(iii) the inscription `United States of America'.
       ``(B) Coin obverse.--The design on the obverse shall--
       ``(i) be chosen by the Secretary, after consultation with 
     the Commission of Fine Arts and review by the Citizens 
     Coinage Advisory Committee; and
       ``(ii) contain the so-called `Sakakawea design' and the 
     inscription `Liberty'.
       ``(C) Edge-incused inscriptions.--
       ``(i) In general.--The inscription of the year of minting 
     and issuance of the coin and the inscriptions `E Pluribus 
     Unum' and `In God We Trust' shall be edge-incused into the 
     coin.
       ``(ii) Preservation of distinctive edge.--The edge-incusing 
     of the inscriptions under clause (i) on coins issued under 
     this subsection shall be done in a manner that preserves the 
     distinctive edge of the coin so that the denomination of the 
     coin is readily discernible, including by individuals who are 
     blind or visually impaired.
       ``(D) Reverse design selection.--The designs selected for 
     the reverse of the coins described under this subsection--
       ``(i) shall be chosen by the Secretary after consultation 
     with the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, the 
     Congressional Native American Caucus of the House of 
     Representatives, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the 
     National Congress of American Indians;
       ``(ii) shall be reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory 
     Committee;
       ``(iii) may depict individuals and events such as--

       ``(I) the creation of Cherokee written language;
       ``(II) the Iroquois Confederacy;
       ``(III) Wampanoag Chief Massasoit;
       ``(IV) the `Pueblo Revolt';
       ``(V) Olympian Jim Thorpe;
       ``(VI) Ely S. Parker, a general on the staff of General 
     Ulysses S. Grant and later head of the Bureau of Indian 
     Affairs; and
       ``(VII) code talkers who served the United States Armed 
     Forces during World War I and World War II; and

       ``(iv) in the case of a design depicting the contribution 
     of an individual Native American to the development of the 
     United States and the history of the United States, shall not 
     depict the individual in a size such that the coin could be 
     considered to be a `2-headed' coin.
       ``(3) Issuance of coins commemorating 1 native american 
     event during each year.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each design for the reverse of the $1 
     coins issued during each year shall be emblematic of 1 
     important Native American or Native American contribution 
     each year.
       ``(B) Issuance period.--Each $1 coin minted with a design 
     on the reverse in accordance with this subsection for any 
     year shall be issued during the 1-year period beginning on 
     January 1 of that year and shall be available throughout the 
     entire 1-year period.
       ``(C) Order of issuance of designs.--Each coin issued under 
     this subsection commemorating Native Americans and their 
     contributions--
       ``(i) shall be issued, to the maximum extent practicable, 
     in the chronological order in which the Native Americans 
     lived or the events occurred, until the termination of the 
     coin program described in subsection (n); and
       ``(ii) thereafter shall be issued in any order determined 
     to be appropriate by the Secretary, after consultation with 
     the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, the 
     Congressional Native American Caucus of the House of 
     Representatives, and the National Congress of American 
     Indians.
       ``(4) Issuance of numismatic coins.--The Secretary may mint 
     and issue such number of $1 coins of each design selected 
     under this subsection in uncirculated and proof qualities as 
     the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
       ``(5) Quantity.--The number of $1 coins minted and issued 
     in a year with the Sakakawea-design on the obverse shall be 
     not less than 20 percent of the total number of $1 coins 
     minted and issued in such year.''.

     SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

       Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (n)(1)--
       (A) by striking the paragraph designation and heading and 
     all that follows through ``Notwithstanding subsection (d)'' 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(1) Redesign beginning in 2007.--Notwithstanding 
     subsection (d)'';
       (B) by striking subparagraph (B); and
       (C) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subparagraphs 
     (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting the subparagraphs 
     appropriately;
       (2) in subsection (n), by striking ``Sacagawea-design'' 
     each place such term appears and inserting ``Sakakawea-
     design''; and
       (3) in paragraphs (3)(C) and (5) of subsection (p), by 
     striking ``Sacagawea-design'' each place such term appears 
     and inserting ``Sakakawea-design''.

     SEC. 4. REMOVAL OF BARRIERS TO CIRCULATION OF $1 COIN.

       (a) In General.--In order to remove barriers to 
     circulation, the Secretary of the Treasury shall carry out an 
     aggressive, cost-effective, continuing campaign to encourage 
     commercial enterprises to accept and dispense $1 coins that 
     have as designs on the obverse the so-called ``Sakakawea 
     design''.
       (b) Report.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to 
     Congress an annual report on the success of the efforts 
     described in subsection (a).

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOREN. 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 thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2358, the Native 
American $1 Coin Act, requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
and issue coins commemorating Native Americans and the important 
contributions they have made, both as individuals and collectively as 
tribes to the history and growth of the United States of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Frank for his hard work in making this 
legislation a priority and recognizing the importance of memorializing 
Native Americans who have been instrumental in the evolution of the 
United States.
  I also want to thank Mr. Kildee for his work on this legislation.
  H.R. 2358 calls upon the government to recognize and pay long overdue 
tribute to Indian tribes and individual Native Americans for their 
significant contributions to the progression of the United States. This 
bill would allow for the acknowledgment of such important events as the 
Pueblo Revolt and the creation of the Cherokee written language; in 
addition, individuals such as the code talkers, who so valiantly served 
in our Armed Forces during World War I and II, and Olympian Jim Thorpe 
who will forever be engraved in the minds of all Americans.
  H.R. 2358 ensures that we recognize the many individual Native 
Americans and Indian tribes who have so significantly contributed to 
the history and development of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2358, the Native 
American $1 Coin Act, and urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  The Native American $1 Coin Act directs the Treasury Department to 
mint and issue $1 coins to celebrate the important contributions made 
by Indian tribes and Native Americans to the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is a terrific complement to the 
Presidential $1 Coin Act that I worked to pass last Congress with the 
gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Maloney). Like that program and the very 
popular 50-state quarter program, this bill will provide an enormous 
educational opportunity for parents and teachers, while at the same 
time recognizing the immense and important contributions of Native 
Americans to the history of the United States.
  Implementation of this legislation will save taxpayers more than half 
a billion dollars over the next decade. When Congress passed the 
Presidential $1 Coin Act in December of 2005, the bill required one-
third of all dollar coins minted each year to bear the design of the 
Sakakawea coin that was first issued in 2000. The requirement was 
intended to keep the image and memory of Sakakawea in the public's mind 
at the same time the Mint produced and issued coins bearing the images 
of the Presidents.
  Unfortunately, through no fault of the design or its subject, there 
is not a large demand for a dollar coin with a static design. It is 
that problem we sought to overcome with the Presidential dollar by 
creating a constantly

[[Page H6248]]

changing design that encourages the public to look for new coins.
  The current law requires the Mint to issue 300 to 350 million of the 
current design Sakakawea dollars every year, for which there is no 
evident demand. That would be about $60 million worth of material and 
labor costs per year, not including the high cost of storing the unused 
coin yearly.
  The innovative legislation was introduced by Mr. Kildee, Chairman 
Frank, Mr. Cole and Mr. Renzi. The bill would keep the Sakakawea design 
on the front of the coin, but would change the design on the reverse 
side each year to represent Native American contributions to the United 
States.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation will both honor Native Americans and 
create demand for the coins similar to the Presidential dollars. 
Instead of the Mint spending $50 million or more a year to make coins 
for which there is no demand, the legislation has the potential to save 
the Treasury $150 million a year or more. It is rare that we can do 
something so cost effective this easily. I support the goals of this 
bill and urge its immediate passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1040

  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the author of the bill, 
the gentleman from the fine State of Michigan (Mr. Kildee), home to 12 
federally recognized tribes.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  As Democratic chairman of the Congressional Native American Caucus, I 
am honored to speak in support of H.R. 2358, the Native American $1 
Coin Act. I am pleased to be the chief sponsor of this bipartisan 
legislation.
  I would like to extend a special thank-you to my friend and 
colleague, Chairman Barney Frank, for his support of this legislation.
  I would also like to acknowledge the other original cosponsors of 
this legislation: Congressman Boren, Congressman Renzi, Congressman 
Cole, and Congressman Castle.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will honor the strength and wisdom of Indian 
country by authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue 
coins that commemorate and honor the outstanding contributions of 
Native Americans by changing the design annually on the reverse of the 
Sakakawea dollar coin.
  This bill establishes a process for selecting designs for the reverse 
side of this coin. These designs will take the American people through 
a journey of different experiences of native peoples by exposing them 
to their unique histories while preserving the memory of Sakakawea, the 
young Shoshone woman who assisted Lewis and Clark on their expedition 
to the Pacific Northwest more than 200 years ago.
  It is my hope that this coin will one day depict the contributions of 
the 12 tribes of my own State of Michigan whose historical roots lie 
with the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawatomi Nations. I can think of no 
better way to pay tribute to the Native American people than to honor 
their contribution to the development of the United States and her 
history.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the distinguished Congresswoman from Michigan, Candice 
Miller.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H.R. 2358, the Native 
American $1 Coin Act, and I applaud my colleague and fellow Michiganian 
(Mr. Kildee) for cosponsoring this legislation, and the other 
cosponsors as well, and for bringing it to the House floor this 
morning.
  Native Americans have played an important role throughout the history 
of our Nation, so it is certainly appropriate that we honor them and 
their accomplishments as well. In fact, were it not for some great 
Native Americans, America as we know it today might look quite a bit 
different.
  Think about Squanto and Somerset, who helped the Pilgrims survive 
their very first winter in the New World; or Sakakawea, who guided 
Lewis and Clark across the unexplored North American continent; or Jim 
Thorpe, the athlete who thrilled millions, really, across the globe 
with his exploits in baseball and football and the Olympics, where he 
won a gold medal; or the Navajo code talkers who broke the Japanese 
code, which was a key moment in the Allied forces prevailing over Japan 
during World War II.
  These individuals and many others like them have made invaluable 
contributions to the survival and to the character of these United 
States.
  This legislation will require the Secretary of Treasury to mint and 
issue coins in commemoration of Native Americans and the important 
contributions made by Indian tribes and individual Native Americans to 
the development and the history, the very rich history, of the United 
States.
  These coins will serve as an important reminder to all Americans of 
the important role that Native Americans have played in our Nation's 
history, the things they are achieving today, and the goals that they 
will meet in the future. Native Americans will be involved in the 
design selection process as well, which will also remind them of their 
important historical contributions.
  So I applaud the sponsors and the cosponsors of this legislation for 
their efforts. And I urge all of my colleagues to support the Native 
American $1 Coin Act.
  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I also would like to thank all 
of the sponsors of this legislation. I would like to thank the 
gentleman from Oklahoma for the managing of it here, Mr. Kildee, for 
his interest in this, and Mrs. Miller for coming to the floor and 
speaking to it.
  I think this is a very worthwhile piece of legislation which will 
move forward something which otherwise would not move forward, and will 
save the Federal Government a lot of money and make it far more 
interesting to those who are collecting these coins out around the 
country.
  So for all these reasons, I hope we would all support this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent a State that is home 
to nearly 40 federally recognized Indian tribes. But Native Americans 
are not only engrained in Oklahoma's history, they are also richly 
embedded in the history of the United States and in the history of each 
individual State.
  H.R. 2358 requires the government to do its part to recognize the 
importance of Native Americans to our country's history and 
development.
  Again, I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Frank, for recognizing the 
importance of H.R. 2358 and also Mr. Kildee for all of his efforts.
  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2358.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________