[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 13, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H3724-H3726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5872) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins
in commemoration of the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America, and
for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5872
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 ``Boy Scouts of America
Centennial Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) The Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its centennial
on February 8, 2010.
(2) The Boy Scouts of America is the largest youth
organization in the United States, with 3,000,000 youth
members and 1,000,000 adult leaders in the traditional
programs of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing.
(3) Since 1910, more than 111,000,000 youth have
participated in Scouting's traditional programs.
(4) The Boy Scouts of America was granted a Federal charter
in 1916 by an Act of the 64th Congress which was signed into
law by President Woodrow Wilson.
(5) In the 110th Congress, 248 members of the House of
Representative and the Senate have participated in Boy Scouts
of America as Scouts or adult leaders.
(6) The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is ``to
prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over
their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout
Oath and Law''.
(7) Every day across our Nation, Scouts and their leaders
pledge to live up the promise in the Scout Oath--``On my
honor I will do my best, To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally
straight''--and the Scout Law, according to which a Scout is
``Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent''.
(8) In the past 4 years alone, Scouting youth and their
leaders have volunteered more than 6,500,000 hours of service
to their communities through more than 75,000 service
projects, benefiting food banks, local schools, and civic
organizations.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) $1 Silver Coins.--The Secretary of the Treasury
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'')
shall mint and issue not more than 350,000 $1 coins in
commemoration of the centennial of the founding of the Boy
Scouts of America, each of which shall--
(1) weigh 26.73 grams;
(2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(3) 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. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) Design Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this
Act shall be emblematic of the 100 years of the largest youth
organization in United States, the Boy Scouts of 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 ``2010''; 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 the
Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America and the
Commission of Fine Arts; and
(2) 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 Facility.--Only 1 facility of the United States
Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the
coins minted under this Act.
(c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins
under this Act only on or after February 8, 2010, and before
January 1, 2011.
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 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 issued under this Act
shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin.
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31,
United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary
from the
[[Page H3725]]
sale of coins issued under this Act shall be paid to the
National Boy Scouts of America Foundation, which funds will
be made available to local councils in the form of grants for
the extension of Scouting in hard to serve areas.
(c) Audits.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall have the right to examine such books, records,
documents, and other data of the National Boy Scouts of
America Foundation as may be related to the expenditures of
amounts paid 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 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
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs.
Biggert) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. GUTIERREZ. 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 Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5872, the Boy Scouts of
America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act.
The Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act instructs
the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 silver coins in
celebration of the 100 years of the largest youth organization in the
United States. The issuing of this coin will begin on or after February
8, 2010, and before January 1, 2011.
Over the last 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America have accumulated
over 5 million members, which include many influential Americans like
Neil Armstrong and former President Gerald Ford.
{time} 1630
The bill recognizes the achievements of its members and their
overwhelming dedication to public service. I urge all Members to
support its passage.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC, May 5, 2008.
Hon. Barney Frank,
Chairman, Financial Services Committee, Rayburn House Office
Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Frank: I am writing regarding H.R. 5872, the
Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act.
As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains
jurisdiction over bills that raise revenue. H.R. 5872
contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for the
sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the bill,
and thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Ways and Means.
However, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding
commemorative coin bills and in order to expedite this bill
for Floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action.
This is being done with the understanding that it does not in
any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the
appointment of Conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this bill or similar legislation in the future.
I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 5872, and would ask
that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be
included in the record.
Sincerely,
Charles B. Rangel,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC, May 5, 2008.
Hon. Charles B. Rangel,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Longworth House Office
Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing in response to your letter
regarding H.R. 5872, the ``Boy Scouts of America Centennial
Commemorative Coin Act,'' which was introduced in the House
and referred to the Committee on Financial Services on April
22, 2008. It is my understanding that this bill will be
scheduled for Floor consideration shortly.
I wish to confirm our mutual understanding on this bill. As
you know, section 7 of the bill establishes a surcharge for
the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the
bill. I acknowledge your Committee's jurisdictional interest
in such surcharges as revenue matters. However, I appreciate
your willingness to forego Committee action on H.R. 5872 in
order to allow the bill to come to the Floor expeditiously. I
agree that your decision to forego further action on this
bill will not prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with
respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar
legislation. I would support your request for conferees on
those provisions within your jurisdiction should this bill be
the subject of a House-Senate conference.
I will include this exchange of letters in the
Congressional Record when this bill is considered by the
House. Thank you again for your assistance.
Barney Frank,
Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5872, the
Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, introduced by
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), which would authorize the
minting and sale of silver dollars commemorating the founding of the
Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).
(Mr. SESSIONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. SESSIONS. I would like to thank the gentlewoman, one of the
original cosponsors of this important bill, H.R. 5872, the Boy Scouts
of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. The gentlewoman from
Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) is 1 of some 297 cosponsors of this very
important bill.
Mr. Speaker, back in 1909, Chicago publisher W.D. Boyce was visiting
London and got lost on a foggy street in London when a Scout came to
his aid and guided him back to his destination. The Scout refused
Boyce's tip, saying that he was simply doing his duty as a Boy Scout.
So, inspired by this young man, Boyce met with Lord Baden-Powell, the
founder of Scouting in England, who was the head of the Boy Scouts
Association at that time. Shortly after his return, Boyce founded the
Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Speaker, we are now headed to the 100th anniversary of the Boy
Scouts of America, and this simple act of kindness that was shown in
London, England became the forerunner of the Boy Scouts of America
today. Founded on February 8, 1910, the Boy Scouts have become an
integral part of the American society and culture. The Boy Scouts of
America is the largest youth organization in the United States with
over 3 million youth members and 1 million adult leaders in traditional
programs that include Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing. Since
1910 more than 111 million youth have participated in Scouting's
traditional programs.
The Boy Scouts of America was granted a Federal charter in 1916 by an
act of the 64th Congress signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.
Here in the 110th Congress, there are 248 Members of the House of
Representatives and Senate that have participated in Boy Scouts of
America as Scouts or adult leaders.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people
to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in
them the values of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Every day,
including for myself last night at Troop 890, Circle 10 Council, Boy
Scouts of America, Dallas, Texas, I joined my troop in reciting what
would be the Scout Oath:
``On my honor I will do my best,
to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
to help other people at all times;
to keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.''
I joined in then with the Scout Law: A scout is ``trustworthy, loyal,
helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave,
clean, and reverent.'' The Scout motto, ``Be prepared''; and the Scout
slogan, ``Do a good turn daily.''
In the past 4 years alone, Scouting youth and their leaders have
volunteered for more than 6.5 million hours of service to their
communities through more than 75,000 service projects, benefiting food
banks, local
[[Page H3726]]
schools, charities, and many organizations that support disabled
Americans.
H.R. 5872, the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin
Act, has vast bipartisan support with over 297 original cosponsors. We
will celebrate and make this coincide with the celebration of the 100th
birthday of Boy Scouting on February 8, 2010. This bill will create
350,000 $1 silver coins. At no cost to the American taxpayer, this coin
raises also $3.5 million for the Boy Scouts of America Foundation for
the purpose of serving Scouts in hard-to-serve areas. Boy Scouts of
America will match this $3.5 million for the cause, totaling $7 million
of nontaxpayer contributions to the Boy Scouts of America to help serve
underserved areas.
I am confident that a commemorative coin would once again be a
meaningful and well-liked gesture among Scouts young and old and would
raise awareness of the importance of participating in the Scouting
program for future generations. I am asking Members of this body to
please join me in the recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Boy
Scouts of America with this 2010 commemorative coin.
I would like to thank the following people for their support of this
bill in addition to the 297 cosponsors: Bob Mazzuca, the Chief
Executive Scout; James Terry, the Assistant Chief Scout Executive and
Chief Financial Officer; my good friend John Green, the National
Director of Programs for the Boy Scouts of America; Chris Frech, the
White House Legislative Affairs Office; Marty McGuinness, the White
House Legislative Affairs Office; Eagle Scout and Congressman Greg
Walden, who serves in this body from Oregon; and Eagle Scout Jim
Silliman, who works within my office.
Mr. Speaker, this opportunity for us to pass this bill today will
lend not only support to the Boy Scouts of America but will help many
underserved areas as they try to provide the same level of support that
was provided to Mr. Boyce on that cold and foggy night in London,
England.
We appreciate the time that the Speaker of the House has given for us
to hear this bill, and I want to thank the gentlewoman for extending
the time to me.
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As Mr. Sessions said, after coming back to London, the Chicago
publisher William Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America, and the
Scouting movement became so successfully transplanted in the United
States that within a few short years, in 1916, the House of
Representatives recognized that Boy Scouts of America ``tends to
conserve the moral, intellectual, and physical life of the coming
generation.''
Those words have remained true generation after generation. And today
Boy Scouts of America strives through its Scout outreach program to
provide an opportunity for young people to join Scouting regardless of
their circumstances, neighborhood, or ethnic background. Boy Scouts of
America partners with other charitable organizations such as the
Habitat For Humanity, the American Red Cross, and the Salvation Army to
help countless citizens across our country as part of the ``Good Turn
for America.'' And Boy Scouts reaches beyond its traditional programs
to help schools and community organizations build character and enhance
self-confidence of all of our youth through Learning for Life.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join in recognizing the Boy Scouts
of America's 100-year anniversary with a commemorative coin in 2010.
Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
5872, the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. This
bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to
350,000 $1 silver coins in 2010 to commemorate the centennial of the
founding of the Boy Scouts of America. The $10 surcharge required for
each coin will be paid to the National Boy Scouts of America
Foundation.
Mr. Speaker, I have long been honored to be associated with the Boy
Scouts of America. I am the proud father of an Eagle Scout and I have
been proud to support the Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts in
North Carolina through volunteer work and vital fundraising. I have
been honored to receive the Silver Beaver, the Scouts' highest award
for volunteering, and I received a new award for my congressional
support for Scouting.
Scouting has contributed to the fabric of American life for nearly
100 years. The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8,
1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916. The Boy Scouts of America's
original mission was to provide an educational program for boys and
young men to build character, to train in the responsibilities of
participating in citizenship, and to develop personal fitness.
You know, North Carolina and America and indeed the entire world have
changed a great deal since 1910. Yet the Boy Scouts endure. The Boy
Scouts remain a mainstay of American life because the message of this
organization is timeless: developing American citizens who are
physically, mentally and emotionally fit.
The leadership and service skills learned as a Boy Scout have enabled
men to become leaders in all walks of life: government, business,
sports, science and the arts. These include such distinguished
individuals as: President Gerald R. Ford, our first Eagle Scout to
become President; Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates; and my friend,
Richard Gephardt, the former majority leader of the U.S. House of
Representatives, and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Closer to my
home, former North Carolina Governor Terry Sanford was an Eagle Scout.
The Boy Scouts of America is an institution that contributes so much
to the strength of our social fabric. The activities of the Boy Scouts
reinforce our moral core and help sustain our American values,
generation after generation.
I support the issuance of this commemorative Centennial Coin, and I
urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5872, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________