[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.

                          ____________________