[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 30, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S497-S499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE (for himself and Mr. Inhofe):
  S. 2579. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
coins in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the United 
States Army in 1775, to honor the American soldier of both today and 
yesterday, in wartime and in peace, and to commemorate the traditions, 
history, and heritage of the United States Army and its role in 
American society, from the colonial period to today; to the Committee 
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, since its founding in 1775, the U.S. Army 
has served this country well for over 230 years and has played a 
decisive role in protecting and defending freedom throughout the 
history of the U.S., from the Colonial period to today, in wartime and 
in peace; and has consistently answered the call to serve the American 
people at home and abroad since the Revolutionary War. The sacrifice of 
the American soldier, of all ranks, since the earliest days of the 
Republic, has been immense and is deserving of the unique recognition 
bestowed by commemorative coinage.
  Today I rise to introduce the U.S. Army Commemorative Coin Act, and 
am joined by Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma in support of the bill, 
as well as the U.S. Army, the National Museum of the U.S. Army, and the 
Army Historical Foundation.
  The U.S. Army Commemorative Coin Act authorizes the Secretary of the

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Treasury to mint 100,000 five dollar gold coins, 500,000 one dollar 
silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar copper-nickel clad coins.
  These coins will be the first U.S. coins to honor the Army as an 
institution in its entirety. Coin designs will be emblematic of the 
traditions, history and heritage of the U.S. Army, and its role in 
American society, from the Colonial period to today. Design motifs will 
specifically honor the American soldier, both today and yesterday, in 
wartime and in peace; and commemorate the traditions and heritage of 
the U.S. Army.
  A surcharge will be applied to each coin, in the amount of $35 for 
each $5 gold coin, $10 for each silver dollar coin, and $5 for each 
half-dollar clad coin. Proceeds from the sales of these coins will be 
directed to the Army Historical Foundation specifically to be used to 
help finance construction of the National Museum of the U.S. Army at 
Fort Belvoir, VA.
  The Army, the Nation's oldest and largest military service, is the 
only service that currently lacks a comprehensive, national museum 
celebrating, preserving and displaying its heritage and honoring its 
veterans. The Army also lacks a national memorial to serve as its 
national landmark here in America's capital city. The museum will 
eventually fill both roles.
  One of the ways that the museum already honors Army veterans is 
through its ``Registry of the American Soldier.'' The Registry 
potentially could contain millions of names and service histories, and 
can already be viewed online. It is open to all who have worn the 
Army's uniform, and I myself recently became the first Member of the 
U.S. Senate to be listed. This registry will eventually be permanently 
displayed at the museum after its public opening, due in 2014.
  In 2000, the Secretary of the Army designated the Army Historical 
Foundation as its primary partner in building the National Museum of 
the U.S. Army, and today the Foundation is actively engaged in 
executing a major, $200 million, capital campaign to support the 
Museum.
  These commemorative coins will do more than just honor the Army and 
our Army veterans. They will also help ensure that the extraordinary 
accomplishment and sacrifice of our soldiers will live on as a legacy 
for future generations. This bill authorizes surcharges that may 
generate over $12.2 million for the Army museum. I want to assure my 
colleagues that this bill will not place any burden on the American 
taxpayer. The profits generated by the sales of these coins will cover 
all costs incurred by the Department of the Treasury.
  Personally, I will never forget the pride I felt in wearing my 
uniform during the Second World War, and I know that I share this pride 
of service with millions of fellow veterans from all walks of life 
across this great country.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, which 
will honor the U.S. Army while helping to open an outstanding, world-
class National Museum of the U.S. Army just across the river from this 
building.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2579

       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 ``United States Army 
     Commemorative Coin Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the United States Army, founded in 1775, has served 
     this country well for over 230 years;
       (2) the United States Army has played a decisive role in 
     protecting and defending freedom throughout the history of 
     the United States, from the Colonial period to today, in 
     wartime and in peace, and has consistently answered the call 
     to serve the American people at home and abroad since the 
     Revolutionary War;
       (3) the sacrifice of the American soldier, of all ranks, 
     since the earliest days of the Republic has been immense and 
     is deserving of the unique recognition bestowed by 
     commemorative coinage;
       (4) the Army, the Nation's oldest and largest military 
     service, is the only service branch that currently does not 
     have a comprehensive national museum celebrating, preserving, 
     and displaying its heritage and honoring its veterans;
       (5) the National Museum of the United States Army will be--
       (A) the Army's only service-wide, national museum honoring 
     all soldiers, of all ranks, in all branches since 1775; and
       (B) located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, across the Potomac 
     River from the Nation's Capitol, a 10-minute drive from Mount 
     Vernon, the home of the Army's first Commander-in-Chief, and 
     astride the Civil War's decisive Washington-Richmond 
     corridor;
       (6) the Army Historical Foundation (in this Act referred to 
     as the ``Foundation''), founded in 1983--
       (A) is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of 
     the American soldier; and
       (B) seeks to educate future Americans to fully appreciate 
     the sacrifices that generations of American soldiers have 
     made to safeguard the freedoms of this Nation;
       (7) the completion and opening to the public of the 
     National Museum of the United States Army will immeasurably 
     help in fulfilling that mission;
       (8) the Foundation is a nongovernmental, member-based, and 
     publicly supported nonprofit organization that is dependent 
     on funds from members, donations, and grants for support;
       (9) the Foundation uses such support to help create the 
     National Museum of the United States Army, refurbish 
     historical Army buildings, acquire and conserve Army 
     historical art and artifacts, support Army history 
     educational programs, for research, and publication of 
     historical materials on the American soldier, and to provide 
     support and counsel to private and governmental organizations 
     committed to the same goals as the Foundation;
       (10) in 2000, the Secretary of the Army designated the 
     Foundation as its primary partner in the building of the 
     National Museum of the United States Army; and
       (11) the Foundation is actively engaged in executing a 
     major capital campaign to support the National Museum of the 
     United States Army.

     SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

       (a) Denominations.--In recognition and celebration of the 
     founding of the United States Army in 1775, and 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of 
     the Treasury (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.
       (3) Half dollar clad coins.--Not more than 750,000 half 
     dollar coins, which shall--
       (A) weigh 11.34 grams;
       (B) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and
       (C) be minted to the specifications for half dollar coins, 
     contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.
       (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. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.

       (a) Design Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be emblematic of the traditions, history, and 
     heritage of the United States Army, and its role in American 
     society from the Colonial period to today.
       (2) Designations 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 ``2011''; 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--
       (1) contain motifs that specifically honor the American 
     soldier of both today and yesterday, in wartime and in peace, 
     such designs to be consistent with the traditions and 
     heritage of the United States Army, the mission and goals of 
     the National Museum of the United States Army, and the 
     missions and goals of the Foundation;
       (2) be selected by the Secretary, after consultation with 
     the Secretary of the Army, the Foundation, and the Commission 
     of Fine Arts; and
       (3) be reviewed by the Citizens Coinage 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 Facilities.--For each of the 3 coins minted under 
     this Act, at least 1 facility of the United States Mint shall 
     be used to strike proof quality coins, while at least 1 other 
     such facility shall be used to strike the uncirculated 
     quality coins.
       (c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins 
     minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning 
     on January 1, 2011.

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     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 section 7(a) 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.

     SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.

       (a) In General.--All sales of coins minted under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge as follows:
       (1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin.
       (2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
       (3) A surcharge of $5 per coin for the half dollar coin.
       (b) Distribution.--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 
     promptly paid by the Secretary to the Foundation to help 
     finance the National Museum of the United States Army.
       (c) Audits.--The Foundation shall be subject to the audit 
     requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States 
     Code, with regard to the amounts received by the Foundation 
     under subsection (b).
       (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 enactment of 
     this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue guidance 
     to carry out this subsection.

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, today I rise to express my support for an 
effort that I believe is long overdue. I am honored today to join 
Senator Inouye as a co-sponsor of the U.S. Army Commemorative Coin Act 
of 2008. As co-chair of the Senate Army Caucus and a former soldier, I 
am proud to pay tribute to the U.S. Army, which has dutifully served 
our Nation for over 230 years.
  The Army is the only service branch that currently does not have a 
comprehensive museum honoring its members and veterans. The 
Commemorative Coin Act will help raise the revenue needed to build a 
museum dedicated to the men and women who have for so long protected 
the sovereignty and freedom of our country. The museum will serve to 
commemorate the enormous sacrifice of our soldiers, and will be a 
symbol of the Army's dedication to the fight for freedom.
  Since the days of the Continental Army of the Revolution, to the 
highly mobile and technological force of today, the U.S. Army has been 
the bulwark against which tyranny and oppression have consistently 
failed. It is time we permanently memorialize the sacrifice that the 
U.S. Army has given to the cause of liberty around the world.
  I urge the Congress to quickly grant its approval to the U.S. Army 
Commemorative Coin Act of 2008.
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