[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 21, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3374-H3376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1615
                   WORKING DOG COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 807) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins 
in commemoration of the invaluable service that working dogs provide to 
society, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 807

       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 ``Working Dog Commemorative 
     Coin Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) Dogs going back thousands of years have been tied to 
     humans whether for protection, companionship, or assisting in 
     daily activities.
       (2) The United States had an unofficial canine military 
     presence assisting soldiers in the Civil War and World War I, 
     but military K-9s did not become officially recognized until 
     March 13, 1942. During the height of the wars in Afghanistan 
     and Iraq it is estimated that the United States military 
     employed near 2,500 K-9s.
       (3) Military K-9s have seen service in every major United 
     States combat since World War I and have been praised by 
     military leadership as an indispensable asset for military, 
     police, government, and private security teams around the 
     world.
       (4) In 2000, Congress passed ``Robby's Law'' which allowed 
     for the adoption of military K-9s by law enforcement 
     agencies, former handlers, and other care groups.
       (5) Since 2000, military K-9s have left service and gone 
     onto work explosive detection for police forces, and work as 
     service dogs for veterans and families.
       (6) Beyond their military working capacity, working dogs 
     provide enhanced mobility assist and renewed independence for 
     the injured and disabled. Service dogs are able to support 
     veterans struggling after war, hear for those who are deaf, 
     see for those who are blind, and even sense changes in a 
     person's body before a seizure. Working dogs play a vital 
     role in improving the lives of many.
       (7) The service dog programs of America's VetDogs were 
     created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence 
     to United States veterans, active-duty service members, and 
     first responders with disabilities.
       (8) America's VetDogs provides--
       (A) guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low 
     vision;
       (B) hearing dogs for those who have lost their hearing 
     later in life by alerting to alarms, door bells, sirens, and 
     more;
       (C) service dogs for those with other physical disabilities 
     that are specially trained to provide balance, retrieve 
     dropped items, open and close doors, turn on and off lights, 
     carry a backpack, and more;
       (D) facility dogs which are specially trained to spend time 
     working with wounded veterans recovering at military 
     hospitals and veterans medical centers;
       (E) dogs that work with physical and occupational 
     therapists as they treat soldiers and become an essential 
     part of the healing process; and
       (F) PTSD service dogs that are trained to help mitigate the 
     symptoms of PTSD by providing the emotional and physical 
     support a veteran may need.

     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 in commemoration of 
     the invaluable service that working dogs provide to society.
       (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.
       (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 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.
       (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. DESIGNS OF COINS.

       (a) Design Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--The designs of the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be emblematic of the vast contributions that 
     working dogs serve in society to include the range of 
     services that these dogs provide in detection, military 
     service, therapy and assistance.
       (2) Designs 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 ``2027''; and
       (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We 
     Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus 
     Unum''.
       (b) Selection.--The designs for the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be--
       (1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with--
       (A) America's VetDogs; and
       (B) 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) 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, 2027.

     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 America's VetDogs for 
     application to general expenses associated with the 
     fulfillment of the mission of America's VetDogs, including 
     for costs associated with--
       (1) personnel related to training, dog care, and consumer 
     needs;
       (2) consultants to facilitate the training of America's 
     VetDogs Certified Service Dog Instructors; and
       (3) travel, room and board for clients served by America's 
     VetDogs.
       (c) Audits.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall have the right to examine such books, records, 
     documents, and other data of each of the organizations 
     referred to in subsection (b) as may be related to the 
     expenditures of amounts paid under that subsection.
       (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.

[[Page H3375]]

  


     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, 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. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       (a) Statutory PAYGO Scorecards.--The budgetary effects of 
     this section shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard 
     maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-
     You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(d)).
       (b) Senate PAYGO Scorecards.--The budgetary effects of this 
     section shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard 
     maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 
     (115th Congress).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Foster) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McHENRY. Madam 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 North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 807, the Working Dog 
Commemorative Coin Act, a bill which I am honored to have introduced 
along with the gentleman from Worcester, Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), 
the ranking member of the Rules Committee.
  My good friend and I introduced this bill this Congress, H.R. 807, 
better known as the dog coin bill in the Halls of Congress. It has been 
a project that both I and my staff have been passionate about since I 
introduced this bill last Congress.
  This legislation not only honors those service dogs, but the working 
dogs who protect Americans at home and abroad. Most of us passed a 
working dog when we came through security today here in Congress. They 
are so embedded in our daily lives here on Capitol Hill that we often 
pass them without notice.
  Since I introduced this bill last Congress, I think we have been 
noticing these working dogs everywhere we go. I am grateful to have 
gained this new appreciation myself. However, this newfound awareness 
did not come from merely introducing a piece of legislation. It came 
from spending time with extraordinary people that benefit from the work 
of America's VetDogs, and I would like to briefly highlight a few of 
them.
  U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Christopher Sunday was medically retired 
in 2011 due to injuries sustained in combat after leading missions 
during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He 
returned home and struggled, like many veterans, with post-traumatic 
stress disorder, PTSD.
  Fortunately, in 2021, Chris was matched with his PTSD-trained service 
canine named Eddie. Chris said about his new companion: Eddie helped me 
find my independence again. I was able to finish my doctorate and 
become a mental health director to help incarcerated individuals 
because of my service dog.
  Navy Corpsman Joe Worley is a familiar face on Capitol Hill, 
traveling from office to office with his service dog, Galaxie. In 2004, 
as his medical convoy was headed back to his base in Fallujah, Iraq, 
the first vehicle in the convoy hit an improvised explosive device. 
Worley jumped out to help his wounded comrades, ran a few yards and was 
hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. It did not explode, but it took off 
his left leg. He was then shot six times. For his actions, he was 
awarded the Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart.
  Since these injuries, Joe has been paired with two separate service 
dogs. He has also joined America's VetDogs full-time as its veteran 
liaison, and what a great job he does.
  Finally, Corpsman Paul Sullivan sat down in my office and told me 
about his work as a first responder in Anne Arundel County. He 
explained how his service dog, Sal, helped him escape the night terrors 
triggered by PTSD. He described Sal as his dream catcher, allowing him 
to sleep again and go about his daily life.
  I thank America's VetDogs team for their relentless work to get this 
bill to the floor today; Deana Stone, who herself spent 20 years in the 
U.S. Air Force; John Miller; Bonnie Singer; Trey Matchin; and the 
countless volunteers and puppy handlers who knocked on every single 
door on the House and Senate sides of the Capitol. Their impact is 
evident today because of the cosponsors we have on this bill and the 
support we have for this bill.
  For a commemorative coin or a Congressional Gold Medal to come to the 
floor, it must receive 290 cosponsors. Gaining that many signatures is 
no easy task, but those individuals worked so hard to spread the word 
that this is more than just a coin bill. This is a bill that will 
improve the quality of life for our wounded veterans and first 
responders, something we can all get behind.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McGovern for his partnership. 
His work on H.R. 807, as well as his previous work to permanently 
authorize the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program, is the perfect 
example of bipartisan collaboration to prioritize the treatment and 
care of wounded veterans, and this bill will help enable the treatment 
and care of our wounded veterans and to honor the service dogs who are 
among us.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 807, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 807, the Working Dog 
Commemorative Coin Act, sponsored by Representative McHenry.
  This bill, introduced by Representative McHenry and Representative 
McGovern, will require the U.S. Treasury and Mint to develop a coin 
series honoring the critical role that working dogs play in our 
society.
  For decades, working service dogs have provided a range of services, 
from detection, military service, therapy, assistance, and mobility to 
Active-Duty servicemembers and first responders with disabilities. 
Their work and companionship have brought immeasurable growth and 
healing for veterans and others with disabilities.
  As the number of service dogs given to veterans with disabilities and 
PTSD continues to increase, this bill is an important step in giving 
these loyal and hardworking service dogs the love and the recognition 
that they deserve.
  I thank Representative McHenry and Representative McGovern, two 
ideological compadres if there ever were such, for their bipartisan 
work on this legislation.

  Madam Speaker, I am personally proud to be a cosponsor of this 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it today, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Self), my friend.
  Mr. SELF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the Working Dog 
Commemorative Coin Act.
  This bill honors the important role that working and service dogs 
play in the lives of Americans, one of whom is a constituent of mine, 
Special Operator Jason Morgan.
  Jason's story is absolutely incredible. He was found face down in a 
swamp in Central America after a mission went wrong. He had a shattered 
spine, collapsed lungs, and numerous broken bones. It was a miracle he 
even survived.
  After waking up from a coma that lasted for months, doctors told him 
he would never walk again. He then went through many painful surgeries, 
with his life hanging by a thread many times.
  When he finally left the hospital, he was in a wheelchair and had 
memory loss. His life seemed to be falling apart. He was left to care 
for his three young sons on his own. Everything changed when Jason met 
Napal, a black Labrador Retriever.

[[Page H3376]]

  With Napal by his side, Jason's life and his family's life changed 
completely. Napal helped Jason overcome his paralysis. Jason completed 
a marathon and won awards and medals in the Wounded Warrior Games. More 
than that, this amazing service dog helped heal Jason's family and 
taught him how to be the father his kids needed.
  I have personally seen Napal many times steal the show with his 
personality and his love of life and his dedication to service. Napal's 
tour of duty has now been completed, and Yago has taken up his duties.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. FOSTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
close.
  Madam Speaker, as we thank our veterans and Active-Duty military 
servicemembers, we must not forget the crucial role that service dogs 
play on and off the battlefield. As a scientist, I note that in a 
recent study conducted on veterans with service dogs, veterans with 
service dog companions had stress hormones more like those in healthy 
adults without PTSD than veterans without service dogs.
  Promoting the health and mental well-being of our veterans is both a 
collective and an individual endeavor. This legislation furthers those 
efforts and ensures that we recognize the important role that service 
dogs play in protecting our Nation, its Active-Duty servicemembers, and 
our veterans.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
close.
  Madam Speaker, I reiterate how important this bill is. Congress can 
direct the Mint to strike a coin, and the proceeds of the sale of that 
coin can benefit society in a large-scale fashion. We have a threshold 
in Congress that says there has to be 290 cosponsors for a bill to do 
that. It has to have wide bipartisan support, and it has to be in the 
greater interests of the country if we are going to do this because it 
is a constitutional function where Congress steps in and directs the 
Mint to create a coin. Then we can direct the proceeds to actually help 
important nonprofits in this country.
  When we have a group like America's VetDogs, they do such important 
work, and they have shown the societal benefit of what they have done. 
For us to act today to acknowledge the role of service dogs and then 
get the benefit back into this community to help veterans suffering 
with PTSD and for us to have service dogs available across the country 
is a very special thing.
  As I said, it took a lot of work, and Members of Congress are people, 
too. Madam Speaker, we often don't acknowledge that, but we are people, 
too. We are emotional, too. Things get really emotional here on Capitol 
Hill, and the way to bring down emotion just a little bit is to have a 
little, good boy come by and wag their tail at you and ask to have just 
a little pet. Those are the dogs, the service animals, that are around 
on Capitol Hill.
  Madam Speaker, we have some service dogs that are in the gallery 
today watching what is happening here. I think because they are here it 
has been a little less emotional. We have actually been a little more 
balanced in how we have debated, and so, even if they are just wagging 
their tails in the gallery, it brings a sense of calm to us as 
policymakers.
  It has been a welcome thing to have those service dogs around the 
Capitol complex driving up cosponsorship, but it couldn't be done 
without the good work of staff.
  From my staff, I thank my good friend, Phil Poe, who has worked with 
me for nearly a decade here in D.C. It has been the work of Phil to 
direct this whole process and to get the cosponsors and work with other 
offices to show interest. Without that definitive work, we would not be 
here today with the cosponsorship we have here.
  I finish by acknowledging the important work of Phil Poe in bringing 
this bill to the House floor. I thank my colleagues for that indulgence 
to thank staff because the staff are what make this operation actually 
work. We can never thank them enough for the input that they make into 
law, the dedication they have to our constitutional republic, and to 
the American people.
  Phil is one of the finest in the business, and I thank Phil for his 
good work.
  Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this important bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1630

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 807, 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.

                          ____________________