[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 1, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5616-H5618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT
Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4104) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins
in recognition and celebration of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4104
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 ``Pro Football Hall of Fame
Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Pro Football Hall of Fame's mission is--
(A) to honor individuals who have made outstanding
contributions to professional football;
(B) to preserve professional football's historic documents
and artifacts;
(C) to educate the public regarding the origin,
development, and growth of professional football as an
important part of American culture; and
(D) to promote the positive values of the sport.
(2) The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened its doors on
September 7, 1963. On that day a charter class of 17 players,
coaches, and contributors were enshrined. Among the group
were such legends as Sammy Baugh, Red Grange, George Halas,
Don Hutson, Bronko Nagurski, and Jim Thorpe. Through 2012,
there are 273 members who have been elected to the Pro
Football Hall of Fame. Three distinct iconic symbols
represent an individual's membership in the Hall of Fame: a
bronze bust, a Hall of Fame gold jacket, and a Hall of Fame
ring.
(3) The Pro Football Hall of Fame has welcomed nearly 9
million visitors from around the world since opening in 1963.
The museum has grown from its original 19,000-square-foot
building to an 118,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility
as result of expansions in 1971, 1978, 1995, and most
recently in 2011-2013. In addition, major exhibit renovations
have been completed in 2003, 2008, and 2009.
(4) The Pro Football Hall of Fame houses the world's
largest collection on professional football. Included in the
museum's vast collection are more than 20,000 three-
dimensional artifacts and more than 20 million pages of
documents including nearly 3,000,000 photographic images.
(5) The Pro Football Hall of Fame reaches a world-wide
audience of nearly 15,000,000 people annually through
visitors to the museum, participants in the annual Pro
Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, three nationally
televised events, the Hall of Fame's Web site, social media
outlets, special events across the country, and through the
museum's Educational Outreach videoconferencing programs.
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 50,000 $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 400,000 $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 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 game of professional football.
(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''.
[[Page H5617]]
(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 Pro Football Hall of Fame;
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;
(2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin; and
(3) $5 per coin for the half-dollar 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 to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame, to help finance the construction of a new building and
renovation of existing Pro Football Hall of Fame facilities.
(c) Audits.--The Pro Football Hall of Fame shall be subject
to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31,
United States Code, with regard to the amounts received 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.
SEC. 8. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.
The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary
to ensure that--
(1) minting and issuing coins under this Act will not
result in any net cost to the United States Government; and
(2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be
disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the
total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins
authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use
of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is
recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with
sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.
SEC. 9. BUDGET COMPLIANCE.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the House of
Representatives, provided that such statement has been
submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Renacci) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
General Leave
Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may 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 Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge approval of H.R. 4104, the Pro
Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act. Since being introduced on
February 28, 2012, we have gathered 294 cosponsors.
I would like to give a special thanks to Representatives Stivers and
Shuler for helping me collect such a large and bipartisan group of
cosponsors. I would also like to thank the chairman and ranking member
of the House Financial Services Committee, Representative Bachus and
Representative Frank, for their support.
The bill before us celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Pro
Football Hall of Fame, the pride of Canton, Ohio. The Hall opened its
doors on September 7, 1963. Six legends were enshrined that day: Sammy
Baugh, Red Grange, George Halas, Don Hutson, Bronko Nagurski, and Jim
Thorpe. These titans were the first of the 273 men who are now
enshrined in the Hall of Fame. And I must add that 23 of those members
are from Ohio.
Americans from all walks of life have enjoyed the game of football
for decades, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame ensures the achievements
of the gridiron's greatest will be remembered and preserved for
generations of future fans.
Since its opening almost 50 years ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame
has attracted more than 9 million visitors to Ohio from across the
world. Through its media and Internet outreach, nearly 15 million more
participate in Hall-related activities.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame's efforts go beyond preserving the
history of the gridiron. Two of the Hall's core missions are educating
youth and promoting positive values.
A few highlight programs exemplify its missions: Camps for Kids,
designed to promote good nutrition and physical fitness; the Hall's
Black History Month program, which details the African American
experience in professional football; the Hall of Fame Reader, a
kindergarten through 12th grade summer literacy program; and teacher
workshops for graduate and continuing education studies.
These educational programs are designed to strengthen core curriculum
knowledge and skills across key learning areas: the arts, geography,
health, history, language arts, math, and science.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation recognizes and celebrates the
accomplishments of our sports heroes, but it also will help support
those exceptional philanthropic efforts. Each coin will be sold for an
amount that recovers all real and imputed cost plus a surcharge, so
there is absolutely no cost to the taxpayer. Once the Hall raises
matching funds from the private sector, it may claim the surcharges
that will be available to help finance the expansion and renovation of
its facilities and carry out its mission.
We are now at the goal line and prepared to put this legislation into
the end zone. I urge all Members to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the sponsors of this bill. I want to
thank the gentleman from Ohio for sponsoring this bill and bringing
this bill to the floor.
Indeed, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the pride of Canton, Ohio.
It is also the apple of the eye of all Americans.
When we think of the National Football League, we immediately think
of the grand names in football history. The gentleman from Ohio named
the initial inductees. Initially coming into my mind are individuals
such as Jim Brown or Jerry Rice or Johnny Unitas or Joe Montana, Walter
Payton. These are household names that are housed now forevermore in
the Hall of Fame and the National Football League.
But we forget that the National Football League and the Hall of Fame
says: We're giving back. We're not going to just be involved in keeping
the fame and the records of the NFL. We understand that we are an
American sport, and so we're going to give back to the American people.
Especially our young people, our children who, like me, growing up,
idolized many of the players that are now in the Hall of Fame.
So what the Hall of Fame does is to make sure that it gets involved
in programs that the gentleman from Ohio just talked about, Camps for
Kids, to help promote nutrition and physical fitness.
[[Page H5618]]
We often hear in this society that we're talking about, people are
too obese. Well, the NFL recognizes that, and the NFL Hall of Fame, the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, as a result, makes sure there are programs
promoting good nutrition, eating good foods, exercise.
Particularly it has been very important to me when I look at the Hall
of Fame's Black History Month program, which details the African
American experience. I can recall growing up with my father talking
about Marion Motley with the Cleveland Browns at the time and the
history that he played in helping and promoting others. And this gives
us all-around history about every American.
Kindergarten through 12th graders, a literacy program. We talk about
the need to make sure that our young people are able to compete. You
can't compete if you're not literate. The Pro Football Hall of Fame
makes sure that every child that it can touch will also be a reader.
We want to be competitive in health and history and language and arts
and math and science. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has a program that
it takes throughout America to help make that happen.
And so this Commemorative Coin Act will help them, at no cost to the
taxpayers, run these programs and preserve its facilities so that it
can continue to build a legacy of a strong American game, but of also
making sure that all of America's children and all of America's people
have an opportunity to grow up, to be literate, to be healthy, and to
be competitive globally with anyone.
{time} 2040
So indeed, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``aye'' for the Pro
Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York
for his inspiring comments.
I would agree that the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a great asset not
only to the city of Canton, the State of Ohio, and America, and the
accomplishments that it provides other than just enshrining inductees
are a great asset to this hall.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I ask my colleagues to join
me in passing H.R. 4104, and I yield back the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC, August 1, 2012.
Hon. Spencer Bachus,
Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Bachus: I am writing concerning H.R. 4104,
the ``Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act,''
which is scheduled for floor action the week of July 30,
2012.
As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains
jurisdiction over matters that concern raising revenue. H.R.
4104 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. 4104, 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, August 1, 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. 4104, Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative
Coin Act, which is scheduled for Floor consideration under
suspension of the rules on Wednesday, August 1, 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 and
Means on H.R. 4104 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Renacci) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 4104, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________