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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4539 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4539

To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration 
of the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower and settlement 
     of Plymouth Colony, the signing of the Mayflower Compact near 
 Provincetown, and the role of the indigenous Wampanoag Tribes in the 
                     realization of the settlement.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 4, 2017

Mr. Keating (for himself and Mr. Foster) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration 
of the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower and settlement 
     of Plymouth Colony, the signing of the Mayflower Compact near 
 Provincetown, and the role of the indigenous Wampanoag Tribes in the 
                     realization of the settlement.

    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 ``Plymouth 400th Anniversary 
Commemorative Coin Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the arrival of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts in 1620 is 
        an important landmark event in the history of the United 
        States;
            (2) the United States is poised for an anniversary of 
        national and international significance, in 2020 with the 400th 
        anniversary of the Mayflower's voyage, signing of the Mayflower 
        Compact, and the founding of Plymouth Colony;
            (3) the Plymouth 400th anniversary will highlight the 
        cultural contributions and United States traditions that began 
        with the interaction of the indigenous Wampanoag and English 
        peoples, a story that significantly shaped the building of the 
        United States;
            (4) the settlers, now known as the Pilgrims, and their ship 
        the Mayflower, have come to represent national and 
        international symbols of freedom and law;
            (5) the indigenous Wampanoag people, and their interaction 
        with the Pilgrims, created an important legacy through their 
        assistance and association, including participation in the 
        first shared harvest, which serves as an indelible iconic 
        moment in United States history;
            (6) the ``Mayflower Compact'', signed near Provincetown 
        before the Pilgrims explored Provincetown and Cape Cod and 
        subsequently landed in Plymouth, was the colonial cornerstone 
        for self-governance in the New World and had a profound 
        influence on later developments related to the Constitution of 
        the United States and the Bill of Rights;
            (7) the story of the Wampanoag people, the Pilgrims, and 
        the Mayflower are iconic symbols for the world representing 
        freedom, family, law, and justice;
            (8) today, people from across the 50 States and around the 
        world visit Massachusetts to see the sights of the first 
        landing in Provincetown, early exploration of the New World 
        along Cape Cod, and the ultimate landing and settlement in 
        Plymouth (commemorated by Plymouth Rock), as well as to visit 
        the re-created Mayflower and Plimoth Plantation, trace their 
        ancestry, and learn about the indigenous Wampanoag and their 
        integral role in the history of the United States;
            (9) there are more than 20,000,000 descendants worldwide 
        who trace their ancestry back to the Mayflower passengers 
        arriving in 1620 and on subsequent ships in the 1620s;
            (10) there are two federally recognized Indian Tribes in 
        the Commonwealth of Massachusetts--the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay 
        Head (Aquinnah) and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe--that have 
        tribal members or citizens who descend from the historical 
        Wampanoag Indian people whose sachem Massasoit signed the 
        Wampanoag Treaty of 1621;
            (11) in 1897, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants 
        was formed with the purpose of creating permanent records of 
        those with lineage to the Mayflower Pilgrims, and to educate 
        the public about the impact the Pilgrims had on Western 
        civilization;
            (12) in 2009, a nonprofit organization, Plymouth 400, Inc., 
        was established to ensure a suitable national observance of the 
        Plymouth 400th anniversary to include the themes of 
        exploration, innovation, immigration, self-governance, 
        religious freedom, and thanksgiving, which are legacies that 
        were sparked by these historic events and that continue today 
        as cornerstones of the United States;
            (13) Plymouth 400, Inc. will lead, support, and facilitate 
        legislative and marketing efforts for a commemorative coin 
        series, United States postage stamps, and related activities 
        for the Plymouth 400th anniversary observances and 
        commemorations in 2020;
            (14) a commemorative coin series will bring national and 
        international attention to the lasting legacy of Plymouth 
        Colony, the indigenous Wampanoag Tribes, and the Pilgrim 
        settlers; and
            (15) the proceeds from a surcharge on the sale of such 
        commemorative coins will assist the financing of a suitable 
        national observance in 2020 and 2021 of the 400th anniversary 
        of the Pilgrim landing and historic events, including the 
        signing of the Mayflower Compact, the first shared harvest, 
        interaction with the indigenous Wampanoag people, and other 
        significant events of the period.

SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

    (a) Denominations.--The Secretary of the Treasury (hereinafter in 
this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall mint and issue the 
following coins:
            (1) $5 gold coins.--Not more than 100,000 $5 coins, which 
        shall--
                    (A) weigh 8.359 grams;
                    (B) have diameter of 0.85 inches; and
                    (C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.
            (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) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and
                    (C) be minted to the specifications for half-dollar 
                coins described 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) Design Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this 
        Act shall be emblematic of the landing and settlement of 
        Plymouth Colony, the signing of the Mayflower Compact, and the 
        role of the indigenous Wampanoag Tribes in the realization of 
        the settlement.
            (2) Designation 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 ``2020''; and
                    (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God 
                We Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E 
                Pluribus Unum''.
    (b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this Act 
shall be--
            (1) selected by the Secretary after consulting with--
                    (A) Plymouth 400, Inc.;
                    (B) the General Society of Mayflower Descendants;
                    (C) the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe;
                    (D) the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah);
                    (E) the Pilgrim Society;
                    (F) Plimoth Plantation, Inc.;
                    (G) the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum;
                    (H) Provincetown 400;
                    (I) the Plymouth Antiquarian Society;
                    (J) the Massachusetts Cultural Council; and
                    (K) the Massachusetts Historical Society; 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 a 1-year period beginning January 1, 2020.

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 as follows:
            (1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin.
            (2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
            (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 under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary as 
follows:
            (1) 30 percent of the surcharges, to the Plymouth 400, 
        Inc.--
                    (A) to support the work of the organization to 
                develop, implement, and provide oversight for the 
                commemorations surrounding the events of 2020 through 
                2021; and
                    (B) at the discretion of Plymouth 400 to distribute 
                to local historical preservation, tribal, and cultural 
                organizations to support their important work in 
                educating the public about the settlement of 1620, 
                their continued existence for the benefit of future 
                generations, and other related purposes;
            (2) 30 percent of the surcharges, to the General Society of 
        Mayflower Descendants--
                    (A) to support the continued restoration of the 
                GSMD facilities in Plymouth;
                    (B) to provide funding for the GSMD research 
                library in Plymouth;
                    (C) to support academic study to learn and 
                disseminate new information about the Pilgrims and 
                early colonial New England;
                    (D) to provide funding for the restoration and 
                operation of the National Pilgrim Memorial 
                Meetinghouse; and
                    (E) for educational purposes;
            (3) 20 percent of the surcharges, to the Mashpee Wampanoag 
        Tribe, to continue programs to educate people about the life of 
        the Wampanoag people and Wampanoag culture, language, and 
        history;
            (4) 5 percent of the surcharges, to the Wampanoag Tribe of 
        Gay Head (Aquinnah) to support programs to educate people about 
        the life of the Wampanoag people prior to the Plymouth 
        settlement and the interactions between the settlers and the 
        Wampanoag people;
            (5) 5 percent of the surcharges, to the Pilgrim Society d/
        b/a Pilgrim Hall Museum for the stewardship, conservation, and 
        preservation of the museum's collection of Pilgrim and Plymouth 
        historical materials, including--
                    (A) the historic 1824 museum building;
                    (B) a digitization program to preserve and share 
                historical resources and build the technological and 
                generational foundation for continued engagement with 
                Plymouth history and Pilgrim Hall Museum;
                    (C) the development, design, and construction of a 
                new museum website to serve as a digital gateway to 
                museum resources;
                    (D) improvements to permanent exhibition galleries 
                and content, including greater attention to Wampanoag 
                history; and
                    (E) support for educational programs and 
                educational partnerships, including a museum internship 
                program; and
            (6) 5 percent of the surcharges to Plimoth Plantation Inc., 
        to support the Museum's educational programs and exhibits that 
        teach the general public about the 17th century history of 
        America including the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, the Mayflower 
        Compact, and the Native people of this region;
            (7) 5 percent of the surcharges, to Pilgrims' First Landing 
        Park, Inc. d/b/a Provincetown 400 to support the organization's 
        work in furtherance of events and programs that educate people 
        about the lives of the Wampanoag people and the Pilgrims before 
        and after the arrival of the Mayflower to the New World and 
        that explore the themes of these historic events that are still 
        relevant today, and to maintain historical markers and sites 
        related to the events of 1620 and 1621.
    (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 such subsection.
    (d) Limitations.--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 such time of 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.
    (e) Exemption From Matching Requirement.--Section 5134(f)(1)(A)(ii) 
of title 31, United States Code, shall not apply to the organizations 
referred to under paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b) with respect 
to surcharges paid under this Act.

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.
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