[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 54 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H1824-H1826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   MARK TWAIN COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2453) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
coins in commemoration of Mark Twain, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2453

       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 ``Mark Twain Commemorative 
     Coin Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Samuel Clemens--better known to the world as Mark 
     Twain--was a unique American voice whose literary work has 
     had a lasting effect on our Nation's history and culture.
       (2) Mark Twain remains one of the best known Americans in 
     the world with over 6,500 editions of his books translated 
     into 75 languages.
       (3) Mark Twain's literary and educational legacy remains 
     strong even today, with nearly every book he wrote still in 
     print, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures 
     of Huckleberry Finn--both of which have never gone out of 
     print since they were first published over a century ago.
       (4) In the past 2 decades alone, there have been more than 
     100 books published and over 250 doctoral dissertations 
     written on Mark Twain's life and work.
       (5) Even today, Americans seek to know more about the life 
     and work of Mark Twain, as people from around the world and 
     across all 50 States annually flock to National Historic 
     Landmarks like the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT, 
     and the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, MO.
       (6) Mark Twain's work is remembered today for addressing 
     the complex social issues facing America at the turn of the 
     century, including the legacy of the Civil War, race 
     relations, and the economic inequalities of the ``Gilded 
     Age''.
       (7) Today Mark Twain's work lives on through educational 
     institutions throughout the United States, such as the Mark 
     Twain Project at the Bancroft Library of the University of 
     California, Berkeley, California, and the Center for Mark 
     Twain Studies at Elmira College, in Elmira, New York.

     SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

       (a) Denominations.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
     (hereafter 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 350,000 $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.
       (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 section 5134 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 life and legacy of Mark Twain.
       (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 ``2016''; 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 
     Commission of Fine Arts and the Board of the Mark Twain House 
     and Museum; 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 
     minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning 
     on January 1, 2016.

     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 issued under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge of--
       (1) $35 per coin for the $5 coin; and
       (2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
       (b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f)(1) 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 as follows:
       (1) One-quarter of the surcharges, to the Mark Twain House 
     & Museum in Hartford, Connecticut, to support the continued 
     restoration of the Mark Twain house and grounds, and ensure 
     continuing growth and innovation in museum programming to 
     research, promote and educate on the legacy of Mark Twain.
       (2) One-quarter of the surcharges, to the University of 
     California, Berkeley, California, to be used for research and 
     education purposes.
       (3) One-quarter of the surcharges, to Elmira College, New 
     York, to be used for research and education purposes.
       (4) One-quarter of the surcharges, to the Mark Twain 
     Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, to preserve 
     historical sites related to Mark Twain and help support 
     programs to study and promote his legacy.
       (c) Audits.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall have the right to examine such books, records, 
     documents, and other data of each of the organizations 
     referred to in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of 
     subsection (b) as may be related to the expenditures of 
     amounts paid under such subsection.
       (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 
Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and add extraneous material on this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today to urge Members to support H.R. 2453, the Mark Twain 
Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation will allow the United States 
Treasury to mint $1 and $5 commemorative coins in 2016 in recognition 
of the important legacy of Mark Twain. Surcharges on the sale of the 
coins will benefit four institutions that either bear Mark Twain's name 
or focus on the study of his work: the Mark Twain House & Museum in 
Hartford, Connecticut; the University of California, Berkeley; Elmira 
College in New York; and in my congressional district, the Mark Twain 
Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri. The sale price of the 
coins will cover all real and amortized costs of production and 
marketing costs so that the entire program will be produced at no cost 
to the taxpayers.
  I would like to thank my colleague, Representative John Larson of 
Connecticut, who first introduced this legislation in the 110th 
Congress. The gentleman from Connecticut and I share an admiration for 
Mark Twain, and have made it a priority to see his legislation through. 
I appreciate his hard work on collecting all the signatures on his side 
of the aisle.

                              {time}  1700

  I would also like to thank the Missouri congressional delegation for 
their support. When I first announced my intentions to introduce the 
Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act, all eight of my colleagues 
immediately came on board to help advance this legislation.

[[Page H1825]]

  I want to acknowledge the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, Dr. 
Cindy Lovell, and the museum's curator, Henry Sweets, as well as their 
dedicated staff, for their incredible work to promote awareness and the 
appreciation of the life and works of Mark Twain.
  Importantly, I would like to thank Chairman Bachus, Ranking Member 
Frank, Speaker Boehner, and Majority Leader Cantor for their assistance 
and cooperation in getting the bill scheduled for consideration in this 
House.
  A true American figure, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known to the 
world as Mark Twain, was born and raised in Missouri amidst the turmoil 
of the American Civil War. Twain's boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri, 
inspired the settings of some of his most beloved stories and helped 
shape his views on violence and injustice.
  The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal commemorates the 
childhood of a man who grew up to be one of the most recognized names 
in literature. The museum opened its doors in 1912 and was designated a 
National Historic Landmark in 1962. I would also like to recognize the 
museum for its upcoming 100th anniversary, a milestone which will be 
celebrated on May 15.
  Twain would eventually move to Hartford, Connecticut, where he 
settled and began to work on what would become his most famous work, 
``The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.'' Hartford is home to the Mark 
Twain House & Museum, dedicated to educating people across the Nation 
and around the world about Twain, his works, and the time period in 
which he lived.
  In New York, Elmira College breathes new life into the history of 
Mark Twain, offering fellowships for research on the author. Elmira 
College also hosts a Mark Twain conference and provides tours of 
Twain's study, where he sought refuge to write several short stories 
and some of his most famous novels. The Mark Twain Project at the 
Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley houses the 
Mark Twain papers, an extensive archive of virtually every document in 
Twain's hand known to survive.
  The bill we consider today honors the legacy of a great American and 
will benefit the institutions that continue to spread awareness and 
educate the public of his great accomplishments and contributions to 
society. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation, 
which is cosponsored by 298 of our colleagues.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
         House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means,
                                                   Washington, DC.
     Hon. Spencer Bachus,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Bachus: I am writing concerning H.R. 2453, 
     the ``Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act,'' which is scheduled 
     for floor action the week of April 16, 2012.
       As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains 
     jurisdiction over matters that concern raising revenue. H.R. 
     2453 contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for 
     the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the 
     bill, and this 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 or similar legislation in the future.
       I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming 
     this understanding with respect to H.R. 2453, and would ask 
     that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Dave Camp,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Financial 
           Services,
                                   Washington, DC, April 13, 2012.
     Hon. Dave Camp,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Camp: I am writing in response to your letter 
     regarding H.R. 2453, the Mark Twain Commemorative Coin Act, 
     which is scheduled for Floor consideration under suspension 
     of the rules on Monday, April 16, 2012.
       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 and appreciate your 
     willingness to forego action by the Committee on Ways & Means 
     on H.R. 2453 in order to allow the bill to come to the Floor 
     expeditiously. Also, 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. Therefore, 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 and if you should 
     need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact 
     Natalie McGarry of my staff at 202 225 7502.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Spencer Bachus,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to recognize the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) for 
his efforts on this meaningful legislation.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 2453, the Mark Twain Commemorative 
Coin Act. This legislation calls for the U.S. Mint to produce a coin in 
2016--I state, in 2016--designed to honor Mark Twain's contribution to 
American history. William Faulkner once called Mark Twain ``the father 
of American literature.''
  One of America's most beloved authors, Mark Twain's life and legacy 
have left a lasting mark on our Nation. Mark Twain, whose real name is 
Samuel Clemens, was beloved by many for his wit and sharp satire. Twain 
worked as a steamboat pilot and a reporter before finding success as a 
writer.
  His hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, later became the setting for his 
most famous novels, ``The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' and ``The 
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,'' which all of us have seen throughout 
our lives as young kids. We still love seeing it every time we see 
this. Twain's other well-known works of fiction include ``The Prince 
and the Pauper'' and ``A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.''
  H.R. 2453 directs the U.S. Mint to produce a $1 and a $5 
commemorative coin in 2016 and, I state, at no cost to the taxpayers. 
The simple price of the coin will cover the cost of production. In 
addition, the sale of the coin will generate revenue for the benefit of 
four of Mark Twain's institutions: the Mark Twain House & Museum in 
Hartford, Connecticut; the Bancroft Library at the University of 
California, Berkeley; Elmira College in New York; and the Mark Twain 
Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri.
  I urge my colleagues to support this responsible legislation as the 
recognition of one of America's greatest authors and humorists, Mark 
Twain.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers at 
this time, and continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACA. I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from 
Connecticut, John Larson, one of our leaders.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Thank you, Mr. Baca of California, and I 
thank the Hartford-Hannibal connection. I want to thank Representative 
Luetkemeyer for his tireless work and effort in making this bill 
possible for the great institutions that both he and Representative 
Baca have illuminated and to stand here today and talk about the 
literary genius of Mark Twain and to see the institutions that will 
benefit from this--and, as Representative Baca points out, at no cost 
to the American public--enriching Americans all across this great 
Nation, I daresay around the globe, from the visits at these great 
institutions, whether it be in Hartford, whether it be in Hannibal, 
whether it be in Elmira or at Berkeley in California, all of whom will 
benefit directly from Mark Twain.
  I'm glad that we're having a voice vote, because I wouldn't want to 
put what Mark Twain had to say about Members of Congress to a test here 
on the floor. But as my good friend and colleague Joe Baca has pointed 
out, the great works of Mark Twain stand throughout the ages. Of 
course, there's nary a person who hasn't read ``Huckleberry Finn'' or 
``Tom Sawyer'' and, as mentioned, ``A Connecticut Yankee in King 
Arthur's Court.'' Well,

[[Page H1826]]

we like to refer to it as, ``A Connecticut Red Sock in King Arthur's 
Court.''
  But, nonetheless I, would be remiss if I didn't thank Jeffrey 
Nichols, the executive director at the Mark Twain House in Hartford, 
Connecticut, and those on the entire board there, who have worked 
tirelessly to make sure that we are able to perpetuate the great legacy 
of Mark Twain in his literature, in his humor and his satire. It is a 
gift for the country that everyone should have the opportunity to 
enjoy.
  Just this last year, the house adjoining the Twain house in Hartford 
is the home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and we had the members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, who came to Hartford to participate in a 
discussion about race. Of course, even today, as both Mark Twain and 
the whole issue of ``Huckleberry Finn'' and ``Tom Sawyer'' continue to 
come under literary discussion and debate, it also focuses on an 
important issue that the Nation needs to continue to face, and that's 
the whole issue of humanity as it relates to how man deals with man and 
the whole issue of racism. There was no stronger proponent in this 
Nation than Samuel Clemens. Mark Twain was just incredible in terms of 
his gift, his literary genius, a great ambassador abroad for this 
country, and heralded on this shore and all across the globe as a 
humanitarian, and we are so proud.
  I again want to thank Representative Luetkemeyer for his efforts to 
make this possible. I know that in Hartford and in Hannibal, Elmira, 
and Berkeley, people are very pleased that this will continue to 
benefit them and allow this great treasure in this great person of 
literature, American literature, to continue to enjoy the vast 
reputation and legacy that all Americans ought to enjoy.
  Mr. BACA. I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I just want to close with a few 
thoughts here.
  Again, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut for his hard work in 
helping to put this together, as well as the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Baca) for his help today.
  It's interesting. When I was the director of tourism for the State of 
Missouri, we found out just how big an icon Mr. Twain was. Mark Twain 
not only is an icon who is recognized around the United States, but he 
is one of the few icons that people from other countries recognize 
about our country.

                              {time}  1710

  If you travel to Hannibal, Missouri, you can see the influence in the 
surroundings there and the stories that he told, and what kind of an 
influence it had on him as a youth and the stories as they unfolded. 
It's quite something.
  Again, with that, 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 Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2453, 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. BACA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

                          ____________________