[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-197
115th Congress

An Act


 
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition of
American innovation and significant innovation and pioneering efforts of
individuals or groups from each of the 50 States, the District of
Columbia, and the United States territories, to promote the importance
of innovation in the United States, the District of Columbia, and the
United States territories, and for other purposes. <>

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 ``American Innovation $1 Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. AMERICAN INNOVATION $1 COIN PROGRAM.

Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after subsection (v) the following new subsection:
``(w) Redesign and Issuance of $1 Coins Honoring Innovation and
Innovators From Each State, the District of Columbia, and Each
Territory.--
``(1) Redesign beginning in 2019.--
``(A) In general. <> --
Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1) and subsection (d)(2)
and in accordance with the provisions of this
subsection, during the 14-year period beginning on
January 1, 2019 (or such later date as provided under
subparagraph (B)(ii)), the Secretary of the Treasury
shall mint and issue $1 coins to be known as `American
Innovation $1 coins', that--
``(i) have designs on the obverse selected in
accordance with paragraph (2)(A); and
``(ii) have a design on the reverse selected
in accordance with paragraph (2)(B).
``(B) Continuity provisions.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall continue to
mint and issue $1 coins honoring Native Americans
and their contributions in accordance with
subsection (r).
``(ii) First coin.--Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), if the Secretary finds that it
is feasible and cost-effective, the Secretary may
mint and issue a $1 coin in 2018 to introduce the
series of coins described in this subsection,
that--
``(I) has the obverse described
under paragraph (2)(A);
``(II) has a reverse that bears the
inscription `United States of America'
and `American

[[Page 1516]]

Innovators' and a representation of the
signature of President George Washington
on the first United States patent
issued;
``(III) has the edge-incusing
described under paragraph (2)(C); and
``(IV) the design for which has
reviewed by the Citizens Coinage
Advisory Committee.
``(C) Definition of territory.--For purposes of this
subsection, the term `territory' means the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States
Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands.
``(2) Design requirements.--Notwithstanding subsection
(d)(1) and subsection (d)(2), the $1 coins issued in accordance
with paragraph (1)(A) shall meet the following design
requirements:
``(A) Coin obverse.--The common design on the
obverse of each coin issued under this subsection shall
contain--
``(i) a likeness of the Statue of Liberty
extending to the rim of the coin and large enough
to provide a dramatic representation of Liberty;
``(ii) the inscription `$1'; and
``(iii) the inscription `In God We Trust'.
``(B) Coin reverse.--The design on the reverse of
each coin issued under this subsection shall bear the
following:
``(i) An image or images emblematic of one of
the following from one of the 50 States, the
District of Columbia, or the territories of the
United States:
``(I) A significant innovation.
``(II) An innovator.
``(III) A group of innovators.
``(ii) The name of the State, the District of
Columbia, or territory, as applicable.
``(iii) The inscription `United States of
America'.
``(C) Edge-incused inscriptions.--
``(i) In general.--The inscription of the year
of minting or issuance of the coin, the mint mark,
and the inscription `E Pluribus Unum' shall be
edge-incused into the coin.
``(ii) Preservation of distinctive edge.--The
edge-incusing of the inscriptions under clause (i)
on coins issued under this subsection shall be
done in a manner that preserves the distinctive
edge of the coin so that the denomination of the
coin is readily discernible, including by
individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
``(3) Issuance of coins commemorating innovation or
innovators.--
``(A) Order of issuance.--
``(i) In general.--The coins issued under this
subsection commemorating either an innovation, an
individual innovator, or a group of innovators,
from each State, the District of Columbia, or a
territory shall be issued in the following order:
``(I) State.--With respect to each
State, the coins shall be issued in the
order in which the

[[Page 1517]]

States ratified the Constitution of the
United States or were admitted into the
Union, as the case may be.
``(II) District of columbia and
territories.--After all coins are issued
under subclause (I), the coins shall be
issued for the District of Columbia and
the territories in the following order:
the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the United States Virgin
Islands, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.
``(ii) Application in event of the admission
of additional states <> .--
Notwithstanding clause (i), if any additional
State is admitted into the Union before the end of
the 14-year period referred to in paragraph (1),
the Secretary of the Treasury may issue a $1 coin
with respect to the additional State in accordance
with clause (i)(I).
``(iii) Application in the event of
independence or adding of a territory.--
Notwithstanding clause (i)--
``(I) if any territory becomes
independent or otherwise ceases to be a
territory of the United States before $1
coins are minted pursuant to this
subsection, the subsection shall cease
to apply with respect to such territory;
and
``(II) if any new territory is added
to the United States, $1 coins shall be
issued for such territories in the order
in which the new the territories are
added, beginning after the $1 coin is
issued for the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.
``(B) Issuance of coins commemorating four
innovations or innovators during each of 14 years.--
``(i) In general.--Four $1 coin designs as
described in this subsection shall be issued
during each year of the period referred to in
paragraph (1) until 1 coin featuring 1 innovation,
an individual innovator, or a group of innovators,
from each of the States, the District of Columbia,
and territories has been issued.
``(ii) Number of coins of each
design <> .--The Secretary
shall prescribe, on the basis of such factors as
the Secretary determines to be appropriate, the
number of $1 coins that shall be issued with each
of the designs selected for each year of the
period referred to in paragraph (1).
``(4) Selection of concept and design.--
``(A) Concept <> .--With
respect to each State, the District of Columbia, and
each territory to be honored with a coin under this
subsection, the selection of the significant innovation,
innovator, or group of innovators to be borne on the
reverse of such coin shall be made by the Secretary of
the Treasury, after consultation with the Governor or
other chief executive of the State, the District of
Columbia, or territory with respect to which a coin is
to be issued under this subsection.

[[Page 1518]]

``(B) Design.--Each of the designs required under
this subsection shall be selected by the Secretary
after--
``(i) <>  consultation
with--
``(I) the Governor or other chief
executive of the State, the District of
Columbia, or territory with respect to
which a coin is to be issued under this
subsection; and
``(II) the Commission of Fine Arts;
and
``(ii) <>  review by the
Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
``(C) Selection and approval process.--Proposals for
designs for $1 coins under this subsection may be
submitted in accordance with the design selection and
approval process developed by the Secretary in the sole
discretion of the Secretary.
``(D) Standards.--Because it is important that the
Nation's coinage and currency bear dignified designs of
which the citizens of the United States can be proud,
the Secretary shall not select any frivolous or
inappropriate design for any $1 coin minted under this
subsection.
``(E) Prohibition on certain representations.--No
head and shoulders portrait or bust of any person and no
portrait of a living person may be included in the
design of any coin issued under this subsection.
``(5) Treatment as numismatic items.--For purposes of
sections 5134 and 5136, all $1 coins minted under this
subsection shall be considered to be numismatic items.
``(6) Issuance of numismatic coins.--The Secretary may mint
and issue such number of $1 coins of each design selected under
this subsection in uncirculated and proof qualities as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(7) Termination of program.--The issuance of coins under
this subsection shall terminate when one innovation, an
individual innovator, or a group of innovators, from each State,
the District of Columbia, and each territory has been honored
and may not be resumed except by an Act of Congress.''.

Approved July 20, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 770:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
Jan. 16, considered and passed House.
June 20, considered and passed Senate, amended.
June 27, House concurred in Senate amendment.