50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act

Summary: 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act - Amends Federal law to mandate redesign of quarter-dollar coins issued during the ten-year period beginning 1999, with the reverse side emblematic of five of the 50 States each year during such period, selected in the order of their ratification of the U.S. Constitution or their admission to the Union. 
United States $1 Coin Act of 1997 - Amends Federal law to mandate that the dollar coin shall:  (1) be golden in color, have a distinctive edge, with tactile and visual features making it readily discernible; (2) be minted and fabricated in the United States; and (3) have similar metallic anticounterfeiting properties as U.S. clad coinage in circulation on the date of enactment of this Act. 
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to place into circulation $1 coins that comply with such mandate upon depletion of the Government's supply of $1 coins bearing the likeness of Susan B. Anthony. 
Authorizes the Secretary to continue to mint and issue $1 Susan B. Anthony coins if they are depleted before production has begun of the new $1 coins mandated by this Act. 
Directs the Secretary to:  (1) adopt a marketing program promoting the use of $1 coins by commercial enterprises, mass transit authorities, and Federal, State, and local government agencies; and (2) conduct a marketing study and report its progress results to the Congress. 
Directs the Secretary to mint and issue for a limited period ten-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the first flight of Orville and Wilbur Wright in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. 
Precludes this Act from being construed as evidence of any intention to eliminate or limit the printing or circulation of United States currency in the $1 denomination. 
Mandates prompt payment of all surcharges received from coin sales to the First Flight Foundation to:  (1) maintain the Wright Brothers Monument on the Outer Banks of North Carolina; and (2) expand and maintain the visitor center and other facilities at the Wright Brothers National Memorial Park.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``50 States Commemorative Coin Program 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
        (1) it is appropriate and timely--
            (A) to honor the unique Federal republic of 50 States that 
        comprise the United States; and
            (B) to promote the diffusion of knowledge among the youth 
        of the United States about the individual States, their history 
        and geography, and the rich diversity of the national heritage;
        (2) the circulating coinage of the United States has not been 
    modernized during the 25-year period preceding the date of 
    enactment of this Act;
        (3) a circulating commemorative 25-cent coin program could 
    produce earnings of $110,000,000 from the sale of silver proof 
    coins and sets over the 10-year period of issuance, and would 
    produce indirect earnings of an estimated $2,600,000,000 to 
    $5,100,000,000 to the United States Treasury, money that will 
    replace borrowing to fund the national debt to at least that 
    extent; and
        (4) it is appropriate to launch a commemorative circulating 
    coin program that encourages young people and their families to 
    collect memorable tokens of all of the States for the face value of 
    the coins.
SEC. 3. ISSUANCE OF REDESIGNED QUARTER DOLLARS OVER 10-YEAR PERIOD 
COMMEMORATING EACH OF THE 50 STATES.
    Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after subsection (k) the following new subsection:
    ``(l) Redesign and Issuance of Quarter Dollar in Commemoration of 
Each of the 50 States.--
        ``(1) Redesign beginning in 1999.--
            ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the fourth sentence of 
        subsection (d)(1) and subsection (d)(2), quarter dollar coins 
        issued during the 10-year period beginning in 1999, shall have 
        designs on the reverse side selected in accordance with this 
        subsection which are emblematic of the 50 States.
            ``(B) Transition provision.--Notwithstanding subpar- agraph 
        (A), the Secretary may continue to mint and issue quarter 
        dollars in 1999 which bear the design in effect before the 
        redesign required under this subsection and an inscription of 
        the year `1998' as required to ensure a smooth transition into 
        the 10-year program under this subsection.
        ``(2) Single state designs.--The design on the reverse side of 
    each quarter dollar issued during the 10-year period referred to in 
    paragraph (1) shall be emblematic of 1 of the 50 States.
        ``(3) Issuance of coins commemorating 5 states during each of 
    the 10 years.--
            ``(A) In general.--The designs for the quarter dollar coins 
        issued during each year of the 10-year period referred to in 
        paragraph (1) shall be emblematic of 5 States selected in the 
        order in which such States ratified the Constitution of the 
        United States or were admitted into the Union, as the case may 
        be.
            ``(B) Number of each of 5 coin designs in each year.--Of 
        the quarter dollar coins issued during each year of the 10-year 
        period referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary of the 
        Treasury shall prescribe, on the basis of such factors as the 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate, the number of quarter 
        dollars which shall be issued with each of the 5 designs 
        selected for such year.
        ``(4) Selection of design.--
            ``(A) In general.--Each of the 50 designs required under 
        this subsection for quarter dollars shall be--
                ``(i) selected by the Secretary after consultation 
            with--

                    ``(I) the Governor of the State being commemorated, 
                or such other State officials or group as the State may 
                designate for such purpose; and
                    ``(II) the Commission of Fine Arts; and

                ``(ii) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin 
            Advisory Committee.
            ``(B) Selection and approval process.--Designs for quarter 
        dollars may be submitted in accordance with the design 
        selection and approval process developed by the Secretary in 
        the sole discretion of the Secretary.
            ``(C) Participation.--The Secretary may include 
        participation by State officials, artists from the States, 
        engravers of the United States Mint, and members of the general 
        public.
            ``(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 
        quarter dollar minted under this subsection.
            ``(E) Prohibition on certain representations.--No head and 
        shoulders portrait or bust of any person, living or dead, and 
        no portrait of a living person may be included in the design of 
        any quarter dollar under this subsection.
        ``(5) Treatment as numismatic items.--For purposes of sections 
    5134 and 5136, all coins minted under this subsection shall be 
    considered to be numismatic items.
        ``(6) Issuance.--
            ``(A) Quality of coins.--The Secretary may mint and issue 
        such number of quarter dollars of each design selected under 
        paragraph (4) in uncirculated and proof qualities as the 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate.
            ``(B) Silver coins.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), the 
        Secretary may mint and issue such number of quarter dollars of 
        each design selected under paragraph (4) as the Secretary 
        determines to be appropriate, with a content of 90 percent 
        silver and 10 percent copper.
            ``(C) Sources of bullion.--The Secretary shall obtain 
        silver for minting coins under subparagraph (B) from available 
        resources, including stockpiles established under the Strategic 
        and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
        ``(7) Application in event of the admission of additional 
    states.--If any additional State is admitted into the Union before 
    the end of the 10-year period referred to in paragraph (1), the 
    Secretary of the Treasury may issue quarter dollar coins, in 
    accordance with this subsection, with a design which is emblematic 
    of such State during any 1 year of such 10-year period, in addition 
    to the quarter dollar coins issued during such year in accordance 
    with paragraph (3)(A).''.

SEC. 4. UNITED STATES DOLLAR COINS.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``United States 
$1 Coin Act of 1997''.
    (b) Weight.--Section 5112(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``and weighs 8.1 grams''.
    (c) Color and Content.--Section 5112(b) of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended--
        (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``dollar,''; and
        (2) by inserting after the fourth sentence the following: ``The 
    dollar coin shall be golden in color, have a distinctive edge, have 
    tactile and visual features that make the denomination of the coin 
    readily discernible, be minted and fabricated in the United States, 
    and have similar metallic, anti-counterfeiting properties as United 
    States coinage in circulation on the date of enactment of the 
    United States $1 Coin Act of 1997.''.
    (d) Design.--Section 5112(d)(1) of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by striking the fifth and sixth sentences and inserting the 
following: ``The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the 
Congress, shall select appropriate designs for the obverse and reverse 
sides of the dollar coin.''.
    (e) Production of New Dollar Coins.--
        (1) In general.--Upon the depletion of the Government's supply 
    (as of the date of enactment of this Act) of $1 coins bearing the 
    likeness of Susan B. Anthony, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
    place into circulation $1 coins that comply with the requirements 
    of subsections (b) and (d)(1) of section 5112 of title 31, United 
    States Code, as amended by this section.
        (2) Authority of secretary to continue production.--If the 
    supply of $1 coins bearing the likeness of Susan B. Anthony is 
    depleted before production has begun of $1 coins which bear a 
    design which complies with the requirements of subsections (b) and 
    (d)(1) of section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, as amended 
    by this section, the Secretary of the Treasury may continue to mint 
    and issue $1 coins bearing the likeness of Susan B. Anthony in 
    accordance with that section 5112 (as in effect on the day before 
    the date of enactment of this Act) until such time as production 
    begins.
        (3) Numismatic sets.--The Secretary may include such $1 coins 
    in any numismatic set produced by the United States Mint before the 
    date on which the $1 coins authorized by this section are placed in 
    circulation.
    (f) Marketing Program.--
        (1) In general.--Before placing into circulation $1 coins 
    authorized under this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
    adopt a program to promote the use of such coins by commercial 
    enterprises, mass transit authorities, and Federal, State, and 
    local government agencies.
        (2) Study required.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
    conduct a study on the progress of the marketing program adopted in 
    accordance with paragraph (1).
        (3) Report.--Not later than March 31, 2001, the Secretary of 
    the Treasury shall submit a report to the Congress on the results 
    of the study conducted pursuant to paragraph (2).

SEC. 5. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be 
construed to evidence any intention to eliminate or to limit the 
printing or circulation of United States currency in the $1 
denomination.

SEC. 6. FIRST FLIGHT COMMEMORATIVE COINS.

    (a) Coin Specifications.--
        (1) Denominations.--The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in 
    this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall mint and issue 
    the following coins:
            (A) $10 gold coins.--Not more than 100,000 $10 coins, each 
        of which shall--
                (i) weigh 16.718 grams;
                (ii) have a diameter of 1.06 inches; and
                (iii) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.
            (B) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 500,000 $1 coins, each 
        of which shall--
                (i) weigh 26.73 grams;
                (ii) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
                (iii) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
            (C) Half dollar clad coins.--Not more than 750,000 half 
        dollar coins each of which shall--
                (i) weigh 11.34 grams;
                (ii) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and
                (iii) 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 section shall be 
legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States 
Code.
    (c) Sources of Bullion.--The Secretary shall obtain gold and silver 
for minting coins under this section pursuant to the authority of the 
Secretary under other provisions of law, including authority relating 
to the use of silver stockpiles established under the Strategic and 
Critical Materials Stockpiling Act, as applicable.
    (d) Design of Coins.--
        (1) Design requirements.--
            (A) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this 
        section shall be emblematic of the first flight of Orville and 
        Wilbur Wright in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 
        1903.
            (B) Designation and inscriptions.--On each coin minted 
        under this section there shall be--
                (i) a designation of the value of the coin;
                (ii) an inscription of the year ``2003''; and
                (iii) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God 
            We Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus 
            Unum''.
        (2) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this 
    section shall be--
            (A) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the 
        Board of Directors of the First Flight Foundation and the 
        Commission of Fine Arts; and
            (B) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
        Committee.
    (e) Period for Issuance of Coins.--The Secretary may issue coins 
minted under this section only during the period beginning on August 1, 
2003, and ending on July 31, 2004.
    (f) Sale of Coins.--
        (1) Sale price.--The coins issued under this section shall be 
    sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
            (A) the face value of the coins;
            (B) the surcharge provided in paragraph (4) with respect to 
        such coins; and
            (C) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including 
        labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, 
        marketing, and shipping).
        (2) Bulk sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the 
    coins issued under this section at a reasonable discount.
        (3) Prepaid orders.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders 
        for the coins minted under this section before the issuance of 
        such coins.
            (B) Discount.--Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders 
        under subparagraph (A) shall be at a reasonable discount.
        (4) Surcharges.--All sales shall include a surcharge of--
                (A) $35 per coin for the $10 coin;
                (B) $10 per coin for the $1 coin; and
                (C) $1 per coin for the half dollar coin.
    (g) General Waiver of Procurement Regulations.--
        (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), no 
    provision of law governing procurement or public contracts shall be 
    applicable to the procurement of goods and services necessary for 
    carrying out the provisions of this Act.
        (2) Equal employment opportunity.--Paragraph (1) does not 
    relieve any person entering into a contract under the
    authority of this section from complying with any law relating to 
    equal employment opportunity.
    (h) Treatment as Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 
and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this 
subsection shall be considered to be numismatic items.
    (i) Distribution of Surcharges.--
        (1) In general.--Subject to section 5134 of title 31, United 
    States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale 
    of coins issued under this section shall be promptly paid by the 
    Secretary to the First Flight Foundation for the purposes of--
            (A) repairing, refurbishing, and maintaining the Wright 
        Brothers Monument on the Outer Banks of North Carolina; and
            (B) expanding (or, if necessary, replacing) and maintaining 
        the visitor center and other facilities at the Wright Brothers 
        National Memorial Park on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, 
        including providing educational programs and exhibits for 
        visitors.
        (2) Audits.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
    have the right to examine such books, records, documents, and other 
    data of the First Flight Foundation as may be related to the 
    expenditures of amounts paid under paragraph (1).
    (j) Financial Assurances.--The Secretary shall take such actions as 
may be necessary to ensure that minting and issuing coins under this 
section will not result in any net cost to the United States 
Government.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.