[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 174 (Monday, December 5, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H7149-H7152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
APOLLO 11 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT
Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2726) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint
commemorative coins in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the first
manned landing on the Moon, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2726
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 ``Apollo 11 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft launched
from Launch Complex 39A at the John F. Kennedy Space Center
carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins,
who would become the first of mankind to complete a crewed
lunar landing.
(2) The United States is the only country ever to have
attempted and succeeded in landing humans on a celestial body
off the Earth and safely returning them home, completing an
unprecedented engineering, scientific and political
achievement.
(3) The Apollo 11 mission, culminating in man's first steps
on the Moon on July 20, 1969, honored the fallen astronauts
of the Apollo 1 crew, whose innovative work and bravery will
be remembered forever.
(4) Apollo 11 accomplished the national goal set forth in
1961 by President John F. Kennedy, who stated at Rice
University the following year, ``We choose to go to the Moon.
We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other
things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard,
because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best
of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one
that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to
postpone, and one which we intend to win''.
(5) At the height of the Cold War, the Apollo space program
provided the United States and the free world with a powerful
symbolic win, demonstrating the strength, ambition, and
determination of the United States in technological and
economic advancement, and securing our Nation's leadership in
space for generations to come.
(6) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's
(referred to in this Act as ``NASA'') Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Alabama, designed, assembled, and
tested the most powerful launch vehicle in history, the
Saturn V rocket, which was used for the Apollo missions in
the 1960s and 1970s.
(7) The Saturn V weighed 6,200,000 pounds and generated
7,600,000 pounds of thrust, which NASA has equated to
generating more power than 86 Hoover Dams.
(8) During the time period from 1969 through 1972, NASA
completed eight Apollo missions and landed 12 men on the
Moon. The six missions that landed on the Moon returned with
a wealth of groundbreaking scientific data and over 800
pounds of lunar samples.
(9) An estimated 400,000 Americans contributed to the
successful program that led to the lunar landing on July 20,
1969, including NASA scientists, engineers, astronauts,
industry contractors and their engineering and manufacturing
workforce, as well as the political leadership of Republicans
and Democrats in Congress and the White House.
(10) The Apollo program, along with its predecessor Mercury
and Gemini programs, inspired generations of American
students to pursue careers in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM), which has fueled
innovation and economic growth throughout a range of
industries over the last four decades.
(11) July 20, 2019, will mark the 50th anniversary of the
Apollo 11 landing of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the
lunar surface.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--In recognition and celebration of the
50th anniversary of the first manned Moon landing, 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) be struck on a planchet having a diameter of 0.850
inches; and
(C) contain not less than 90 percent gold.
(2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 400,000 $1 coins, which
shall--
(A) weigh 26.73 grams;
(B) be struck on a planchet having a diameter of 1.500
inches; and
(C) contain not less than 90 percent silver.
(3) Half-dollar clad coins.--Not more than 750,000 half-
dollar coins which shall--
(A) weigh 11.34 grams;
(B) be struck on a planchet having 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.
(4) Proof silver $1 coins.--Not more than 100,000 proof $1
silver coins which shall--
(A) weigh 5 ounces;
(B) be struck on a planchet having a diameter of 3 inches;
and
(C) contain .999 fine silver.
(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.
(d) Convex Shape.--
(1) In general.--The coins minted under this Act shall be
produced in a fashion similar to the 2014 National Baseball
Hall of Fame 75th Anniversary Commemorative Coin, so that the
reverse of the coin is convex to more closely resemble the
visor of the astronaut's helmet of the time and the obverse
concave, providing a more dramatic display of the obverse
design chosen pursuant to section 4(c).
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that,
to the extent possible without significantly adding to the
purchase price of the coins, the coins minted under this Act
should be produced with the design of the reverse of the
coins continuing over what would otherwise be the edge of the
coins, such that the reverse design extends all the way to
the obverse design.
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) In General.--The design for the coins minted under this
Act shall be--
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with--
(A) the Commission of Fine Arts; and
(B) with respect to the design of the reverse of the coins,
the Administrator of NASA; and
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
(b) Designations and Inscriptions.--On each coin minted
under this Act there shall be--
(1) a designation of the denomination of the coin;
(2) an inscription of the year ``2019''; and
(3) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We
Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus
Unum''.
(c) Selection and Approval Process for Obverse Design.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall hold a juried,
compensated competition to determine the design of the common
obverse of the coins minted under this Act, with such design
being emblematic of the United States space program leading
up to the first manned Moon landing.
(2) Selection process.--Proposals for the obverse design of
coins minted under this Act may be submitted in accordance
with the design selection and approval process developed by
the Secretary in the sole discretion of the Secretary.
(3) Proposals.--As part of the competition described in
this subsection, the Secretary may accept proposals from
artists, engravers of the United States Mint, and members of
the general public, and any designs submitted for the design
review process described herein shall be anonymized until a
final selection is made.
(4) Compensation.--The Secretary shall determine
compensation for the winning design under this subsection,
which shall be not less than $5,000.
(d) Reverse Design.--The design on the common reverse of
the coins minted under this Act shall be a representation of
a close-up of the famous ``Buzz Aldrin on the Moon''
photograph taken July 20, 1969, that shows just the visor and
part of the helmet of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, in which the
visor has a mirrored finish and reflects the image of the
United States flag and the lunar lander and the remainder of
the helmet has a frosted finish.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins.--Except with respect to coins
described under section 3(a)(4), 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 1-year period beginning
on January 1, 2019.
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, winning design
compensation, 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 described
under section 3(a)(2).
[[Page H7150]]
(3) A surcharge of $5 per coin for the half-dollar coin.
(4) A surcharge of $50 per coin for the $1 coin described
under section 3(a)(4).
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) 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 half to the Smithsonian Institution's National Air
and Space Museum's ``Destination Moon'' exhibit, for design,
education, and installation costs related to establishing and
maintaining the exhibit, and for costs related to creating a
traveling version of the exhibition;
(2) one quarter to the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, for
costs related to the preservation, maintenance, and
enhancement of the Astronauts Memorial and for promotion of
space exploration through educational initiatives; and
(3) one quarter to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, to
aid its missions of promoting the importance of science and
technology to the general public and of aiding the United
States in retaining its world leadership in science and
technology by providing college scholarships for the very
best and brightest students pursuing degrees in science,
technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
(c) Audits.--The recipients described under subsection (b)
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 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, are
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, winning design compensation, 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Posey) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2726, the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act, which I introduced, along with my colleague
from Florida, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. This has been a truly
bipartisan endeavor, with 298 total cosponsors.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy challenged the Nation with the
following words:
``We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon in this
decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because
they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the
best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we
are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which
we intend to win. . . . `'
That famous speech launched the Apollo program but, more importantly,
it galvanized our Nation and united us into accomplishing perhaps the
greatest technological achievement in human history, and it was truly a
national undertaking. An estimated 400,000 men and women from across
the United States contributed to the effort. Components of the Saturn V
rocket, command and service module, lunar landing module, and other
critical parts were literally manufactured from every State in the
Union--from Huntsville, Alabama, to Seal Beach, California; New
Orleans, Louisiana, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and everywhere in between.
On July 16, 1969, a mere 8 years after the first American, Alan
Shepard, traveled into space, a Saturn V rocket blasted off from
Merritt Island, Florida, and raced to the Moon. Four days later,
astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the lunar surface
as Michael Collins stood watch.
This legislation commemorates our Nation's commitment to space
exploration, our pioneering spirit, and our unmatched ingenuity. The
United States' leadership in space exploration has benefited our
country's national security and economy, strengthened our international
relationships, advanced scientific discovery and technology, and vastly
improved life here on Earth for practically everyone.
American space exploration continues to inspire our next generation
of pioneers and innovators. As such, we were deliberate in our efforts
to ensure that the sale of these coins would support efforts to grow
the next generation of space explorers while also honoring the courage
and sacrifice of NASA astronauts lost in the line of duty.
This legislation would authorize the minting and sale in 2019 of a
limited number of gold, silver, and clad coins in commemoration of the
Apollo 11 mission. The coins would be domed, with the reverse featuring
a representation of a spacesuit visor similar to the famous Buzz Aldrin
on the Moon photograph.
After all taxpayer costs are satisfied, surcharges on the sales price
of the coins will fund college scholarships for our future scientists,
engineers, and astronauts, support educational initiatives that promote
space exploration, honor astronauts who have fallen in the line of
duty, and memorialize this historical event through a stimulating new
museum exhibit.
Mr. Speaker, July 20, 2019, will mark the 50th anniversary of the
landing of the Eagle lunar module on the Moon's surface. We remain the
only country that has ever landed humans on the Moon and returned them
safely to Earth.
{time} 1645
This commemorative coin will celebrate what I feel is the most awe-
inspiring engineering and technological deed of the 20th century. I
urge its immediate support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, December 5, 2016.
Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hensarling: I am writing with respect to H.R.
2726, the ``Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
Act.'' This bill contains provisions within the Rule X
jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means.
The Committee on Ways and Means will not seek a sequential
referral on H.R. 2726 so that it may proceed expeditiously to
the House floor for consideration. This is done with the
understanding that the jurisdictional interests of the
Committee on Ways and Means over this and similar legislation
are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the
Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 2726
and requests your support when such a request is made.
I would appreciate your response confirming this
understanding with respect to H.R. 2726 and ask that a copy
of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the
Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the
House floor.
Sincerely,
Kevin Brady,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Financial Services,
Washington, DC, December 5, 2016.
Hon. Kevin Brady,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Brady: Thank you for your December 5th letter
regarding H.R. 2726, the ``Apollo 11 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act.''
I am most appreciative of your decision to forego action on
H.R. 2726 so that it may move expeditiously to the House
floor. I acknowledge that although you are waiving action on
the bill, the Committee on Ways and Means is in no way
waiving its jurisdictional interest in this or similar
legislation. In addition, if a conference is necessary on
this legislation, I will support any request that your
committee be represented therein.
Finally, I shall be pleased to include your letter and this
letter on H.R. 2726 in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the same.
Sincerely,
Jeb Hensarling,
Chairman.
[[Page H7151]]
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Budget,
Washington, DC, November 29, 2016.
Hon. Jeb Hensarling,
Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hensarling: I am writing concerning H.R.
2726, the Apollo 11: 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act,
which the House is expected to consider the week of December
5th.
Section 9 of the bill includes budgetary compliance
language, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Committee
on the Budget. It is my understanding that this language will
be removed from the bill prior to House consideration. In
order to expedite House consideration of H.R. 2726, the
Committee will forgo action on the bill. This is being done
with the understanding that it does not in any way prejudice
the Committee with respect its jurisdictional prerogatives on
this or similar legislation.
I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 2726 and would ask
that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration.
Sincerely,
Tom Price, M.D.,
Chairman, Committee on the Budget.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee Financial Services,
Washington, DC, November 30, 2016.
Hon. Tom Price,
Chairman, Committee on the Budget,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Price: Thank you for your November 30th
letter regarding H.R. 2726, the ``Apollo 11 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act,''
I am most appreciative of your decision to forego action on
H.R. 2726 so that it may move expeditiously to the House
floor. I acknowledge that although you are waiving action on
the bill, the Committee on the Budget is in no way waiving
its jurisdictional interest in this or similar legislation.
In addition, if a conference is necessary on this
legislation, I will support any request that your committee
be represented therein.
Finally, I shall he pleased to include your letter and this
letter on H.R. 2726 in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the same.
Sincerely,
Jeb Hensarling,
Chairman.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in favor of H.R. 2726, legislation that
will authorize the issuance of gold, silver, and clad coins in
commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the first time in history that
mankind successfully completed a crewed lunar landing.
The Apollo 11 mission was a momentous occasion in its own right, but
it was also a bittersweet achievement, as it also served as a reminder
of the first Apollo mission, whose courage we will never forget.
I am pleased that, in addition to honoring the Apollo 11 crew, the
legislation before us today also recognizes the estimated 400,000
Americans who contributed to make possible the Apollo 11 mission. By
calling on the Treasury Department to mint and issue coins in honor of
Apollo 11, I hope that we will continue to remind all Americans of the
boundlessness of what can be achieved when we set our sights high and,
quite literally, aim for the Moon.
I also hope the coin minted as part of this legislation will show our
young people just how exciting the fields of science, mathematics, and
engineering can be and how critical they are to building a brighter
future for all.
By ensuring that a quarter of the proceeds raised will be made
available to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation to make college
scholarships available for students pursuing degrees in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, the legislation before us
will make one step towards opening up these fields to our best and
brightest.
The remaining surcharges associated with the sale of the coins will
go towards the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space
Museum's Destination Moon exhibit and be provided to the Astronauts
Memorial Foundation for maintenance of the memorial and to further
educational initiatives.
For these reasons, I hope all Members will support the legislation
before us.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Wilson), who has been a champion for this important legislation.
Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my full
support for the passage of H.R. 2726, the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act.
I want to thank my longtime friend and Florida colleague,
Representative Posey, for his outstanding leadership as the sponsor of
this bill. I am proud to have worked very closely with him to build
bipartisan support for this legislation. I also want to thank Speaker
Ryan, Chairman Hensarling, Ranking Member Waters, and the Financial
Services Committee for their work to bring this bill to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today authorizes the minting and
distribution of commemorative coins to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of the first manned lunar landing mission, Apollo 11. These coins will
honor Apollo 11 crew members, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, and Neil
Armstrong; NASA scientists, engineers, and astronauts; and the other
400,000 Americans who made the mission possible.
Surcharges from the sale of these coins will further our commitment
to promote STEM education, space exploration, and science discovery. It
will honor astronauts who lost their lives in service of our country
and support the Destination Moon exhibit, which will feature exciting
Apollo 11 artifacts.
As a former elementary school principal and leading advocate for STEM
education, I am very happy that this bill supports college scholarships
for future scientists, engineers, and astronauts.
Mr. Speaker, the Apollo 11 mission is a testament to our values as
Americans. The mission's success reminded the world of our commitment
to hard work, determination, and patriotism.
When many questioned whether we could rise to the challenge of
putting a man on the Moon within a decade, we came together, worked our
hardest, and achieved this daunting task in just 8 years. We left the
world in awe and wonder.
When our astronauts were 4 miles past the designated landing spot and
mission control told them that they had just 60 seconds of fuel left
before the landing would have to be aborted, they did not panic. With
unrelenting resolve, they managed to land on the Moon with only 17
seconds to spare. When Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong planted our flag
on the Moon, millions of Americans felt a sense of pride that was
exhilarating and inspiring.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30
seconds.
Ms. WILSON of Florida. As Members of Congress, we should look to
Apollo 11 as inspiration as we work to tackle challenges that seem
unsurmountable. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting for
this bipartisan legislation, which has 298 cosponsors and the support
of Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, Apollo 11's two surviving
astronauts.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, basically, I will say that it is an honor for me to
support this bill and this legislation. I ask all my colleagues to
support it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, we owe a debt of gratitude to the brave astronauts of
the Apollo program, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice in the
line of duty. We are beholden to the hundreds of thousands of men and
women who, when challenged to go to the Moon in this decade, accepted
the challenge with a passion and a resolve that accomplished that which
was thought unachievable.
I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their
leadership and support of this legislation. Of course, finally, I want
to express my sincere gratitude to my longtime friend and colleague
from Florida, (Ms. Wilson), for her staunch support and tireless
efforts to ensure that this remarkable achievement is commemorated.
Mr. Speaker, we have one opportunity to celebrate this historical
event with a commemorative coin. I urge my colleagues to join me in
supporting this bill.
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 Florida (Mr.
[[Page H7152]]
Posey) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2726,
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.
____________________