[115th Congress Public Law 65]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 131 STAT. 1191]]
Public Law 115-65
115th Congress
An Act
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in
recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American
Legion. <<NOTE: Oct. 6, 2017 - [H.R. 2519]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: The American
Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act. 31 USC 5112 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``The American Legion 100th Anniversary
Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) on March 15, 1919, The American Legion was founded in
Paris, France, by members of the American Expeditionary Force
occupying Europe after World War I and concerned about the
welfare of their comrades and communities upon their return to
the United States;
(2) on September 16, 1919, Congress chartered The American
Legion, which quickly grew to become the largest veterans
service organization in the United States;
(3) The American Legion conferences in Washington, DC, in
1923 and 1924 crafted the first United States Flag Code, which
was adopted in schools, States, cities and counties prior to
being enacted in 1942, establishing the proper use, display, and
respect for the colors of the United States;
(4) during World War II, The American Legion developed and
presented to Congress its case for vastly improved support for
medically discharged, disabled veterans, which ultimately became
the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 284; chapter
268), better known as the G.I. Bill of Rights, and was drafted
by former American Legion National Commander Harry W. Colmery in
Washington's Mayflower Hotel;
(5) through the leadership and advocacy of The American
Legion, the G.I. Bill was enacted in June 1944, which led to
monumental changes in United States society, including the
democratization of higher education, home ownership for average
people in the United States, better VA hospitals, business and
farm loans for veterans, and the ability to appeal conditions of
military discharge;
(6) defying those who argued the G.I. Bill would break the
Treasury, according to various researchers, the G.I. Bill
provided a tremendous return on investment of $7 to the United
States economy for every $1 spent on the program, triggering a
half-century of prosperity in the United States;
[[Page 131 STAT. 1192]]
(7) after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, The American Legion
established the National Emergency Fund to provide immediate
cash relief for veterans who have been affected by natural
disasters;
(8) American Legion National Emergency Fund grants after
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, for instance, exceeded
$1,700,000;
(9) The American Legion fought to see the Veterans
Administration elevated to Cabinet-level status as the
Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring support for veterans
would be set at the highest level of the Federal Government, as
a priority issue for the President;
(10) after a decades-long struggle to improve the
adjudication process for veterans disputing claims decisions,
The American Legion helped shape and introduce the Veterans
Reassurance Act to create a venue for judicial review of
veterans' appeals;
(11) building on these efforts, legislation was passed in
1988 to create the United States Court of Veterans Appeals,
today known as the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims;
(12) The American Legion created the American Legacy
Scholarship Fund for children of military members killed on
active duty on or after September 11, 2001;
(13) in 2016, The American Legion's National Executive
Committee amended the original scholarship criteria to include
children of veterans with 50 percent or greater VA disability
ratings;
(14) President George W. Bush signed into law the Post-9/11
Veterans Educational Assistance Act (title V of the Supplemental
Appropriations Act, 2008; 122 Stat. 2357), a next-generation
G.I. Bill strongly supported by The American Legion and the most
comprehensive educational benefits package since the original
G.I. Bill of Rights was enacted in 1944;
(15) in August 2018, The American Legion will begin its
centennial recognition at the 100th National Convention in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, the site of the first American Legion
National Convention; and
(16) in March 2019, the organization will celebrate its
100th birthday in Paris, France, and September 16, 2019, will
mark the 100th anniversary of The American Legion's Federal
charter.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--In recognition and celebration of the 100th
anniversary of The American Legion, 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) have 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) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
[[Page 131 STAT. 1193]]
(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) 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) In General.--The design for the coins minted under this Act
shall be emblematic of The American Legion.
(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.--The design for the coins minted under this Act shall
be--
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with--
<<NOTE: Consultation.>>
(A) the Commission of Fine Arts; and
(B) the Adjutant of The American Legion, as defined
in the constitution and bylaws of The American Legion;
and
(2) reviewed <<NOTE: Review.>> by the Citizens
Commemorative Coin 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 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 based upon 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.
[[Page 131 STAT. 1194]]
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).
(3) A surcharge of $5 per coin for the half-dollar coin.
(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 to
The American Legion for costs related to--
(1) promoting the importance of and caring for those who
have served in uniform, ensuring they receive proper health care
and disability benefits earned through military service;
(2) promoting the importance of, and caring for, those who
are still serving in the Armed Forces;
(3) promoting the importance of maintaining the patriotic
values, morals, culture, and citizenship of the United States;
and
(4) promoting the importance of maintaining strong families,
assistance for at-risk children, and activities that promote
their healthy and wholesome development.
(c) 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.
(d) Audit.--The recipient 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).
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 the 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
[[Page 131 STAT. 1195]]
States Treasury, consistent with sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of
title 31, United States Code.
Approved October 6, 2017.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2519 (S. 1182):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
Sept. 25, considered and passed House.
Sept. 28, considered and passed Senate.
<all>