[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.

                          ____________________