Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 94 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)

[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.

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