I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3693 
To amend title 31, United States Code, to save the American taxpayers 
money by immediately altering the metallic composition of the 1-cent 
coin, to require a prompt review and report, with recommendations, 
for cost-saving changes in the metallic content of other circulating United 
States coins, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 15, 2011 
Mr. STIVERS (for himself, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, and Mr. TIBERI) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To amend title 31, United States Code, to save the American 
taxpayers money by immediately altering the metallic 
composition of the 1-cent coin, to require a prompt re-
view and report, with recommendations, for cost-saving 
changes in the metallic content of other circulating 
United States coins, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cents and Sensibility 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. REDUCING THE COST TO TAXPAYERS OF PRO-
DUCING THE PENNY. 
(a) STEEL PENNIES REQUIRED.—Subsection (c) of 
section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) 1-CENT COIN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The 1-cent coin shall— 
‘‘(A) be produced primarily of steel; and 
‘‘(B) meet such other specifications as the 
Secretary may determine to be appropriate, in-
cluding any change in the weight from that 
specified in subsection (a)(6). 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT.—The 1-cent coin shall be 
treated to impart a copper color to the appearance 
of the coins so that the appearance is similar to 1- 
cent coins produced of copper-plated zinc before the 
date of the enactment of this subsection. 
‘‘(3) BUY AMERICAN STEEL REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the Secretary shall, in 
minting 1-cent coins, only use steel produced in 
the United States. 
‘‘(B) 
EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph 
(A) 
shall not apply if the Secretary finds, and pub-
lishes in the Federal Register the basis of such 
finding, that— 
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‘‘(i) applying subparagraph (A) would 
be inconsistent with the public interest; or 
‘‘(ii) steel is not produced in the 
United States in sufficient and reasonably 
available quantities.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to all 1-cent coins issued after 
the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. REDUCING THE COST TO TAXPAYERS OF PRO-
DUCING OTHER CIRCULATING COINS WITH-
OUT INTERFERING WITH THE WAY SUCH 
COINS ARE HANDLED BY BUSINESS, GOVERN-
MENT, AND CONSUMERS IN THE COURSE OF 
ORDINARY COMMERCE. 
Before the end of the 180-day period beginning at 
the end of the 90-day period referred to in section 2(b), 
the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Financial Services of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs of the Senate the initial report described in section 
3 of the Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity 
Act of 2010. 
Æ 
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