[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 29, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H3254-H3257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 100TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

  Mr. GARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 627) to provide for the issuance of coins to commemorate the 
100th anniversary of the establishment of the National Park Service, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 627

       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 ``National Park Service 100th 
     Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) In 1916, Congress established the National Park Service 
     as a bureau within the Department of the Interior to 
     administer America's great national parks and monuments as a 
     unified National Park System.
       (2) From 1916 to the present, the National Park System has 
     grown from 37 park units with 6,000,000 acres of land in the 
     western United States to more than 395 units with 84,000,000 
     acres of land in nearly all States and territories.
       (3) The responsibilities of the National Park Service have 
     grown to include--
       (A) managing national historic trails and national scenic 
     trails;
       (B) administering wild and scenic rivers;
       (C) recognizing America's most significant historic 
     resources through the National Register of Historic Places 
     and the National Historic Landmark program;
       (D) providing historic preservation grants; and
       (E) assisting communities in meeting their preservation, 
     conservation, and recreation needs.
       (4) The National Park Service Organic Act of 1916, which 
     established the National Park Service, remains the preeminent 
     law guiding the management of parks and articulating the 
     Service's core mission, ``to conserve the scenery and the 
     natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to 
     provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by 
     such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of 
     future generations''.
       (5) The 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 
     2016 will be an occasion to celebrate a century of American 
     vision and achievement in identifying and preserving our 
     Nation's special places for the benefit of everyone and the 
     culmination of 100 years of accomplishment by the National 
     Park Service's employees, partners, and volunteers. It will 
     also mark the beginning of the organization's second century 
     of service to the American people as environmental leaders 
     and vigilant stewards of the Nation's treasured places and 
     stories.
       (6) Coins commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 
     National Park Service will bring national and international 
     attention to the National Park System and to the legacy 
     Congress left in 1916 when it established a Federal agency to 
     ensure the protection of our Nation's most treasured natural 
     and cultural resources for all time.
       (7) The proceeds from a surcharge on the sale of 
     commemorative coins will assist the financing of the needs of 
     the National Park Service's parks and programs, helping to 
     ensure that our Nation's great natural and cultural resources 
     will endure for generations to come.

     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.

[[Page H3255]]

       (2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 500,000 $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 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 100th anniversary of the 
     National Park Service.
       (2) Designation and inscriptions.--On each coin minted 
     under this Act there shall be--
       (A) a designation of the face 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--
       (A) the National Park Service;
       (B) the National Park Foundation; and
       (C) 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) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins 
     minted under this Act only during the period beginning on 
     January 1, 2016, and ending on December 31, 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 
     the 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 minted under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge as follows:
       (1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin.
       (2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
       (3) A surcharge of $5 per coin for the half dollar coin.
       (b) Distribution.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, 
     United States Code, all surcharges which are received by the 
     Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall 
     be promptly paid by the Secretary to the National Park 
     Foundation for projects and programs that help preserve and 
     protect resources under the stewardship of the National Park 
     Service and promote public enjoyment and appreciation of 
     those resources.
       (2) Prohibition on land acquisition.--Surcharges paid to 
     the National Park Foundation pursuant to paragraph (1) may 
     not be used for land acquisition.
       (c) Audits.--The National Park Foundation shall be subject 
     to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, 
     United States Code, with regard to the amounts received by 
     the Foundation under subsection (b).
       (d) Limitations.--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 New 
Jersey (Mr. Garrett) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Murphy) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GARRETT. Mr. Speaker, again, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks, and also to submit extraneous materials for the Record on this 
bill, H.R. 627, as amended, and currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 627, the National Park 
Service 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, introduced by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen).
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation seeks to authorize the minting and sale 
in 2016 of gold, silver, and clad commemorative coins marking the 
centenary of the forming of the National Park Service, the great 
stewards of American history and the American landscape so important to 
all of us.
  The idea of federally recognizing and preserving certain sites began 
in the late 19th century with the official establishment of a select 
group of national parks, including Yellowstone, Sequoia National Park 
in California, and Yosemite as well.
  When Theodore Roosevelt became President in 1901, he continued this 
effort, speaking out on the importance of preserving the habitats of 
American wildlife and signing the Antiquities Act of 1906. That act 
allowed the President to ``declare by public proclamation historic 
landmarks, historic and pre-historic structures, and other objects of 
historic or scientific interest.''
  About a decade later, in 1916, the National Park Service was created 
to place all of the sites under the care of a single independent 
agency.
  Fast forward to today, now, the Park Service manages nearly 400 sites 
totaling 84 million acres. These parks cover all corners of our Nation, 
and almost every American State and territory is home to at least one.
  People from around the globe now are attracted to our national sites 
because of both their beauty and also their grandeur. Every year, our 
parks hosts--note this--280 million visitors.
  The legislation before us today has 307 cosponsors, and a companion 
Senate bill has 73.
  The coins will be minted and sold at no cost to the taxpayer. No 
proceeds from the sale may be used to acquire new lands.
  So, Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill, honoring a great part of the 
Federal Government that maintains some of the most spectacular parts of 
American landscape and history, and I ask for its immediate passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill would authorize the U.S. Mint to produce gold, 
silver, and clad coins for resale in 2016. Proceeds from the sale of 
these coins will be used to help protect our national parks, so that 
our country's great natural and cultural resources will endure for 
generations to come. This bill comes at no cost to taxpayers.
  National parks are not only crucial to preserve our natural, 
historic, and cultural treasures, but they are also economic engines to 
job creators. They generate tens of billions in revenue and support 
hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide.
  This bill will help maintain and promote many beautiful and important

[[Page H3256]]

parks in our country, such as Everglades National Park, which is 
located near the district I am proud to represent.
  The Everglades region is a large, interconnected ecosystem that is 
globally unique because of the hundreds of species and plants and 
animals that live there, such as the Florida panther and the West 
Indian manatee.
  This rare ecosystem also faces exceptional problems due to rapid 
development and outdated infrastructure in the area.
  You may be wondering why someone from Florida's Treasure Coast is 
concerned with the Everglades. As my colleagues have surely heard me 
discuss, there are serious problems facing Florida's many waterways.
  When there is heavy rainfall--also known as summer in Florida--the 
Army Corps, following the Lake Okeechobee release schedule, releases 
water from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River in the east and the 
Caloosahatchee River in the west. These freshwater releases are heavy 
in nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria that then plague our brackish 
waterways.
  Last summer, the St. Lucie River contained such high levels of 
bacteria that local officials posted public health warnings up and down 
the shore, and many residents reported infections resulting from their 
interaction with the water. Toxic algae blooms were also found 
throughout the waterways.
  This pollution not only forces people to avoid contact with the 
water, which is frequently the center of their livelihood, but also is 
an extreme threat to the most biodiverse estuary in the country.
  Just like the broader Everglades system, several species in the 
Indian River Lagoon are already being listed as threatened or 
endangered, and these releases jeopardize these species even further.
  My constituents stress to me that the health of our environment 
cannot be separated from the health of our economy. In Florida's 18th 
District, the health of the Everglades and our waterways is critical to 
economic strength.
  I will continue to advocate to even the most conservative of my 
colleagues that the economic impact of Everglades restoration projects 
provides a 4 to 1 return on investment in both short-term and long-term 
economic benefits.
  So important are these restoration efforts, the Florida delegation 
continues to come together in a bipartisan manner in support of 
protecting our environment and the economic role it plays in our great 
State of Florida.
  All members of our delegation understand that, for the entire system 
to benefit and for the Federal Government to work most efficiently, we 
must aggressively continue to push to complete Everglades restoration 
projects that we have already started.
  It is clear that water quality and management decisions that impact 
one area of the Everglades system have residual impacts throughout the 
entire water system of central and south Florida and the Treasure 
Coast.
  So while people who live along the Florida Bay may not immediately 
see the benefits of the C-44 Indian River Lagoon project in my 
district--and the same for residents of the Treasure Coast with the C-
111 spreader canal--you cannot look at one piece of the system in a 
vacuum. It is intensively interconnected.
  That is why I have been so passionate on Everglades restoration 
issues, not only in my district, but throughout the State and the 
watershed and why today I stand in support of this bill that will help 
the Park Service continue its important work of preserving this and 
other critical habitats.

  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARRETT. Mr. Speaker, at this time, we are joined by the original 
sponsor of the legislation. I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen).
  Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
want to thank him for his leadership, as well as Chairman Hensarling 
and all the staff on the Financial Services Committee for bringing this 
legislation forward.
  I also want to mention my partner in this effort, Congresswoman 
Kaptur, for her efforts in promoting this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, President Teddy Roosevelt said:

       There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the 
     Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the 
     canyon of the Colorado, the canyon of the Yellowstone, the 
     three Tetons; and our people should see to it that they are 
     preserved for their children and their children's children 
     forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred.

  His leadership and tireless advocacy for conservation led to the 
creation of the National Park Service and System back in 1916.
  Today, the National Park Service comprises over 401 different areas, 
covering more than 84 million acres across America, including 
territories like in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin 
Islands. These areas include some of our most cherished monuments, 
battlefields, lakeshores, recreation areas, pristine rivers, and 
pristine falls.
  Minnesota is host to five national parks who are visited by more than 
650,000 visitors each and every year, contributing $34 million to our 
local economy. They span the entirety of the State, from the beautiful 
Voyageurs National Park up on the Canadian border, to the Mississippi 
River and Recreation Area, running through the heart of the Twin 
Cities.
  Americans from all States, though, and all backgrounds have enjoyed 
the opportunity to visit these sites. In 2016, in just a few years, we 
will all come together to help celebrate the centennial, the 100th 
birthday of the National Park Service.
  To commemorate this occasion, we have got bipartisan, bicameral 
legislation that will allow the Department of the Treasury to authorize 
the minting of a series of commemorative coins: a $5 coin, a silver 
dollar, and a clad half dollar. There is no cost to the taxpayer.
  Over 300 authors in the House have signed on to the bill, bipartisan 
support in the Senate; and all the proceeds from this commemorative 
coin program go to the National Park Foundation, which is responsible 
for preserving and protecting all these resources under the stewardship 
of the National Park Service, and then promoting the public enjoyment 
and recreation and appreciation for those resources.

                              {time}  1245

  So more than 278 million people enjoy national parks each and every 
year, including my wife and my family, my four daughters. We frequently 
have the opportunity to visit and vacation in national parks. One of 
the very first summer jobs that I had was working at Yellowstone, some 
of the best memories of my life. My brother was a park ranger for many 
years at Glacier National Park.
  So here we have a bill that commemorates not only the anniversary of 
our Park Service but also makes sure we have got dedicated funds that 
will have no taxpayer cost, no taxpayer impact in promoting these 
resources.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that our national parks are truly one 
of our greatest natural resources and crowned jewels, and they deserve 
being celebrated and preserved so that future generations can enjoy 
that beauty and history in our country. So passing this bill is just 
one important step to help us honor our country's very important 
heritage.
  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my 
colleagues and the gentleman from Minnesota and the gentleman from New 
Jersey for the spirited debate on the importance of America's national 
parks, including Florida's incomparable ``river of grass,'' the 
Everglades.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARRETT. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 627, 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. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.

[[Page H3257]]

  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________