[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 24, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2260-H2261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT AMENDMENT
Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1071) to specify the size of the precious-metal blanks that
will be used in the production of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
commemorative coins.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1071
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SIZE OF PRECIOUS-METAL BLANKS.
Section 3(a) of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 112-152) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``have'' and inserting
``be struck on a planchet having a''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``have a'' and
inserting ``be struck on a planchet having a''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Bachus) and the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.
General Leave
Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 1071.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Alabama?
There was no objection.
Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1071, introduced by our
colleague from New York (Mr. Hanna), along with Mr. Doyle and Mr.
Gibson, two other Representatives from the State of New York.
This is a two-line amendment of the most technical sort. It amends
the National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act, sponsored by
Mr. Hanna and Mr. Doyle, and passed last year by this Congress. The
legislation calls for the Mint to strike and issue next year's coins in
commemoration of the Hall of Fame's 75th anniversary.
The coin will be domed, Mr. Speaker, the first of that kind ever done
by the Mint. As they did the technical work of preparing to produce the
coin, the Mint discovered that using a standard coin blank and stamping
the center part into a dome drew the edges of the coin inward a few
thousandths of an inch; not a big deal, but enough to be out of spec
with the finished size of the coin designated in the legislation.
To avoid making a coin not in compliance with the law, or having to
purchase expensive custom coin blanks, this bill simply eliminates the
requirement for the finished size and specification that the coins be
struck on standard commemorative coin blanks. The result will be a less
expensive coin and less work for the Mint.
This is truly a technical amendment, Mr. Speaker. I urge its quick
passage.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1071. The bill corrects the
specification of the precious metal blanks to be used by the U.S. Mint
in making the National Baseball Hall of Fame coins which Congress
authorized last term. This correction will result in a cost savings,
permitting the U.S. Mint to implement the design specifications using
standard-sized blanks and produce the coins by January 2014, the
required deadline.
Last Congress, I voted in favor of minting the National Baseball Hall
of Fame commemorative coin. Proceeds from the coin will go to the
National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, to help
fulfill its mission of preserving history, honoring excellence, and
connecting generations through the rich history of our national
pastime.
One of the most popular exhibits at the Hall of Fame is that of
Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in 1947, bringing his
amazing skills from the Negro League to win Rookie of the Year his
first year. He led the Brooklyn Dodgers to 6 pennants in 10 seasons,
including their own World Series in 1955. He was the 1949 National
League Most Valuable Player. Jackie Robinson was elected to the Hall of
Fame in 1962, after his phenomenal career. Most importantly, he showed
tremendous grace and poise as he integrated the major leagues and
served as an inspiration to so many of us in generations to come. The
number he wore--42--as a Brooklyn Dodger has been retired in his honor,
and no other ball player can wear that number again.
Baseball is also a wonderful pastime in my own district of
Birmingham, Alabama, where we have a minor league team, the Birmingham
Barons, and enjoy the baseball.
I ask for passage of H.R. 1071 and urge my colleagues to approve this
bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Hanna), who is the sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. HANNA. I thank the chairman emeritus for yielding and for his
strong support of the National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coin
bill.
Mr. Speaker, the United States Mint is working hard to produce
spectacular coins next year honoring the National Baseball Hall of
Fame's 75th anniversary.
As called for in the legislation I authored in last year's Congress,
the coin will be unique in the history of the Mint. It will be domed,
with the back of the coin depicting stitches that appear on a major
league baseball.
In doing the production work, the Mint discovered that the work to
make the coin domed would make the finished coin slightly smaller than
the standard finished commemorative coin. I am pleased the Mint has
brought this to our attention and asked that we do a technical
amendment to allow them to use standard coin blanks, instead of having
to secure expensive custom ones.
Since all production costs of commemorative coins are passed on to
the consumer, this will keep the cost of these coins down for baseball
fans around the world who want to commemorate 75 years of collecting,
displaying, and honoring our national pastime.
Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill that actually saves money and
effort, and I urge its immediate passage.
Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gibson).
Mr. GIBSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding. And it's a great
privilege to rise today in support of this bill.
I'm proud to represent Cooperstown in upstate New York, home of the
Baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball, America's pastime, is something that
unites us and I think also something that engenders hope throughout our
country, the feeling that we all have in April, the possibility that
our team could go all the way and win the World Series, something,
indeed, that unites us.
A coin is a fitting way to honor the Hall of Fame and also help our
efforts for tourism in central New York. And this bill and this coin
are able to do all that at no cost to the taxpayer.
I might also say that this competition where we now have children
from across the country that are involved in this competition to
provide the best design is, I think, going to kindle even more support
for baseball. And so I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
I thank Mr. Hanna for his leadership and the chairman for the
opportunity to speak this morning in support of it.
Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my New York colleagues for
[[Page H2261]]
bringing this bill. Obviously, those of us who visited Cooperstown,
it's a wonderful place, and I can really think of no better way to
start the celebration of the 75th anniversary than to go view the film,
``42,'' about Jackie Robinson.
{time} 1240
Baseball has a rich history. It has a history, as with other sports,
of bringing people together, putting aside their personal, emotional,
or ideological differences. It is a wonderful movie and a lesson for
all of us.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1071.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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