To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in conjunction with the minting of coins by the Republic of Iceland in commemoration of the millennium of the discovery of the New World by Lief Ericson.
PL 106-126 (H.R.3373), enacted 12/06/1999

PUBLIC LAW 106-126—DEC. 6, 1999 
113 STAT. 1643 
Public Law 106-126 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in conjunction with the 
_ 
_ .-_„ 
minting of coins by the RepubUc of Iceland in commemoration of the millennium 
' ' 
of the discovery of the New World by Leif Ericson. 
[H.R. 3373] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I—LEIF ERICSON MILLENNIUM 
L
e
i
f
E
n
c
s
o
n 
COMMEMORATIVE COIN 
coSS'o'ative 
Coin Act. 
31 u s e 5112 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
note. 
This title may be cited as the "Leif Ericson Millennium 
Commemorative Coin Act". 
SEC. 102. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. 
(a) $1 SILVER COINS.—In conjunction with the simultaneous 
minting and issuance of commemorative coins by the Republic of 
Iceland in commemoration of the millennium of the discovery of 
the New World by Leif Ericson, the Secretary of the Treasury 
(hereafter in this title referred to as the "Secretary") shall mint 
and issue not more than 500,000 1 dollar coins, which shall— 
(1) weigh 26.73 grams; 
(2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and 
(3) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. 
(b) LEGAL TENDER.—^The coins minted under this title shall 
be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(c) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 5136 of title 
31, United States Code, all coins minted under this title shall 
be considered to be numismatic items. 
SEC. 103. SOURCES OF BULLION. 
The Secretary may obtain silver for minting coins under this 
title from any available source, including stockpiles established 
under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. 
SEC. 104. DESIGN OF COINS. 
(a) DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The design of the coins minted under 
this title shall be emblematic of the millennium of the discovery 
of the New World by Leif Ericson, 
(2) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS.—On each coin minted 
under this title there shall be— 
(A) a designation of the value of the coin; 
113 STAT. 1644 
PUBLIC LAW 106-126—DEC. 6, 1999 
United States 
Capitol Visitor 
Center 
Commemorative 
Coin Act of 1999. 
31 use 5112 
note. 
(B) an inscription of the year "2000"; and 
(C) inscriptions of the words "Liberi;y", "In God We 
Trust", "United States of America", and "E Pluribus 
Unum". 
(b) SELECTION.—^The design for the coins minted under this 
title shsdl be— 
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the 
Leifur Eiriksson Foundation and the Commission of Fine Arts; 
and 
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
Committee. 
SEC. 105. ISSUANCE OF COINS. 
shall 
(a) QUALITY OF COINS.—Coins minted under this title 
be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities. 
(b) MINT FACILITY.—Only one facihtv of the United States 
Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins 
minted under this title. 
(c) COMMENCEMENT OF ISSUANCE.—The Secretary may issue 
coins minted under this title beginning January 1, 2000. 
(d) TERMINATION OF MINTING AUTHORITY.—No coins may be 
minted under this title after December 31, 2000. 
SEC. 
1
0
6
. 
SURCHARGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^All sales of coins minted under this title 
shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION.—^All surcharges received by the Secretary 
from the sale of coins issued under this title shall be promptly 
paid by the Secretary to the Leifur Eiriksson Foundation for the 
purpose of funding student exchanges between students of the 
United States and students of Iceland. 
(c) AUDITS.—The Leifur Eiriksson Foundation shall be subject 
to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United 
States Code, with regard to the amounts received by the Foundation 
under subsection (b). 
SEC. 
1
0
7
. 
GENERAL 
WAIVER 
OF 
PROCUREMENT 
REGULATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), no provi-
sion of law governing procurement or public contracts shall be 
apphcable to the procurement of goods and services necessary for 
carrying out the provisions of this title. 
(b) EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.—Subsection (a) shall 
not relieve any person entering into a contract under the authority 
of this title from complying with any law relating to equal employ-
ment opportunity. 
TITLE II—CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER 
COMMEMORATIVE COIN 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "United States Capitol Visitor 
Center Commemorative Coin Act of 1999". 
SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) Congress moved to Washington, District of Columbia, 
and first convened in the Capitol building in the year 1800; 
PUBLIC LAW 106-126—DEC. 6, 1999 
113 STAT. 1645 
(2) the Capitol building is now the greatest visible s3nnibol 
of representative democracy in the world; 
(3) the Capitol building has approximately 5,000,000 visi-
tors annually and suffers from a lack of facilities necessary 
to properly serve them; 
(4) the Capitol building and persons within the Capitol 
have been provided with excellent security through the dedica-
tion and sacrifice of the United States Capitol Police; 
(5) Congress has appropriated $100,000,000, to be supple-
mented with private funds, to construct a Capitol Visitor Center 
to provide continued high security for the Capitol and enhance 
the educational experience of visitors to the Capitol; 
(6) Congress would like to offer the opportunity for all 
persons to voluntarily participate in raising funds for the Cap-
itol Visitor Center; and 
(7) it is appropriate to authorize coins commemorating 
the first convening of the Congress in the Capitol building 
with proceeds from the sale of the coins, less expenses, being 
deposited for the United States Capitol Preservation Commis-
sion with the specific purpose of aiding in the construction, 
maintenance, and preservation of a Capitol Visitor Center, 
SEC. 203. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. 
(a) DENOMINATIONS.—The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter 
in this title referred to as the "Secretary^') shall mint and issue 
the following coins under this title: 
(1) 
BIMETALLIC 
COINS.—Not more than 200,000 $10 
bimetallic coins of gold and platinum, in accordance with such 
specifications as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
(2) $1 SILVER COINS.—Not more than 500,000 $1 coins, 
which shall— 
(A) weigh 26.73 grams; 
i j 
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and 
(C) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. 
(3) HALF DOLLAR.—Not more than 750,000 half dollar clad 
coins, each of which— 
(A) shall 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) $5 GOLD COINS.—If the Secretary determines that the 
minting and issuance of bimetallic coins under subsection (a)(1) 
is not feasible, the Secretary may mint and issue instead not 
more than 100,000 $5 coins, which shall— 
(1) weigh 8.359 grams; 
(2) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and 
(3) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy. 
(c) LEGAL TENDER.—^The coins minted under this title shall 
be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 204. SOURCES OF BULLION. 
(a) PLATINUM AND GOLD.—The Secretary shall obtain platinum 
and gold for minting coins under this title from available sources. 
(b) SILVER.—The Secretary may obtain silver for minting coins 
under this title from stockpiles established under the Strategic 
and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act, and from other available 
sources. 
113 STAT. 1646 
PUBLIC LAW 106-126—DEC. 6, 1999 
SEC. 205. DESIGN OF COINS. 
(a) DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The design of the coins minted under 
this title shall be emblematic of the first meeting of the United 
States Congress in the United States Capitol Building. 
(2) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS.—On each coin minted 
under this title, there shall be— 
(A) a designation of the value of the coin; 
(B) an inscription of the year "2001"; 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 
title shall be— 
(1) selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the 
United States Capitol Preservation Commission (in this title 
referred to as the "Commission") and the Commission of Fine 
Arts; and 
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
Committee. 
SEC. 206. ISSUANCE OF COINS. 
(a) QUALITY OF COINS.—Coins minted under this title shall 
be issued in uncirculated and proof quaUties. 
(b) MINT FACILITY.—Only one facihty of the United States 
Mint may be used to strike any particular combination of denomina-
tion and quality of the coins minted under this title. 
(c) FIRST USE OF YEAR 2001 DATE.—The coins minted under 
this title shall be the first commemorative coins of the United 
States to be issued bearing the inscription of the year "2001". 
(d) PROMOTION CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) consult with the Commission in order to establish a 
role for the Commission or an entity designated by the Commis-
sion in the promotion, advertising, and mgirketing of the coins 
minted under this title; £ind 
(2) if the Secretary determines that such action would 
be beneficial to the sale of coins minted under this title, enter 
into a contract with the Commission or an entity referred 
to in paragraph (1) to carry out the role estabUshed under 
paragraph (1). 
SEC. 207. SALE OF COINS. 
(a) SALE PRICE.—The coins minted under this title shall be 
sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum o
f
— 
(1) the face value of the coins; 
(2) the surcharge provided in subsection (d) with respect 
to such coins; and 
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including 
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, 
meirketing, and shipping). 
(b) BULK SALES.—^The Secretary shall meike bulk sales of the 
coins issued imder this title at a reasonable discount. 
(c) PREPAID ORDERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders 
for the coins minted xmder this title before the issuance of 
such coins. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-126—DEC. 6, 1999 
113 STAT. 1647 
(2) DISCOUNT.—Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders 
under paragraph (1) shall oe at a reasonable discount, 
(d) SURCHARGES.—^All sales under this title shall include a 
surcharge established by the Secretary, in an amount equal to 
not more than— 
(1) $50 per coin for the $10 coin or $35 per coin for the 
$5 coin; 
(2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin; and 
(3) $3 per coin for the half dollar coin. 
SEC. 208. DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES. 
All surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins 
minted under this title shall be deposited in the Capitol Preserva-
tion Fund in accordance with section 5134(f) of title 31, United 
States Code, and shall be made available to the Commission for 
the purpose of aiding in the construction, maintenance, and 
preservation of a Capitol Visitor Center. 
TITLE III—LEWIS AND CLARK 
EXPEDITION COMMEMORATIVE COIN 
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "Lewis and Clark Expedition 
Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act". 
SEC. 302. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) the expedition commanded by Meriwether Lewis and 
William Clark, which came to be called "The Corps of Dis-
covery", was one of the most remarkable and productive sci-
entific and military exploring expeditions in all American his-
tory; 
(2) President Thomas Jefferson gave Lewis and Clark the 
mission to "explore the Missouri River & such principal stream 
of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters 
of the Pacific Ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado, 
or £iny other river may offer the most direct and practical 
water communication across this continent for the purposes 
of commerce"; 
(3) the Expedition, in response to President Jefferson's 
directive, greatly advanced our geographical knowledge of the 
continent and prepared the way for the extension of the Amer-
ican fur trade with American Indian tribes throughout the 
land; 
(4) President Jefferson directed the explorers to take note 
of and carefully record the natural resources of the newly 
acquired territory known as Louisiana, as well as diligently 
report on the native inhabitants of the land; 
(5) the Expedition departed St. Louis, Missouri on May 
14,1804; 
(6) the Expedition held its first meeting with American 
Indians at Coxuicil Bluff near present-day Fort Calhoun, 
Nebraska, in August 1804, spent its first winter at Fort 
Mandan, North Dakota, crossed the Rocky Mountains by the 
mouth of the Columbia River in mid-November of that year. 
Lewis and Clark 
Expedition 
Bicentennial 
Commemorative 
Coin Act. 
31 u s e 5112 
note. 
69-194-01-5 :QL3Part3 
113 STAT. 1648 
PUBLIC LAW 106-126—DEC. 6, 1999 
and wintered at Fort Clatsop, near the present-day city of 
Astoria, Oregon; 
(7) the Expedition returned to St. Louis, Missouri, on Sep-
tember 23, 1806, after a 28-month journey covering 8,000 miles 
during which it traversed 11 future States: Illinois, Missouri, 
Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Mon-
tana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon; 
(8) accounts from the journals of Lewis and Clark and 
the detailed maps that were prepared by the Expedition 
enhance knowledge of the western continent and routes for 
commerce; 
(9) the Expedition significantly enhanced amicable relation-
ships between the United States and the autonomous American 
Indian nations, and the friendship and respect fostered between 
American Indian tribes and the Expedition represents the best 
of diplomacy and relationships between divergent nations and 
cultures; and 
(10) the Lewis and Clark Expedition has been called the 
most perfect expedition of its kind in the history of the world 
and paved the way for the United States to become a great 
world power. 
SEC. 303. COIN SPECIFICATIONS. 
(a) DENOMINATION.—In commemoration of the bicentennial of 
the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Secretary of the Treasury 
(hereafter in this title referred to as the "Secretary") shall mint 
and issue not more than 500,000 $1 coins, each of which shall— 
(1) weigh 26.73 grams; 
(2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and 
(3) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. 
(b) LEGAL TENDER.—The coins minted under this title shall 
be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(c) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 5136 of title 
31, United States Code, all coins minted under this title shall 
be considered to be numismatic items. 
SEC, 304. SOURCES OF BULLION. 
The Secretary may obtain silver for minting coins under this 
title from any available source, including stockpiles established 
under the Strategic £ind Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. 
SEC. 305. DESIGN OF COINS. 
(a) DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The design of the coins minted under 
this title shall be emblematic of the expedition of Lewis and 
Clark. 
(2) DESIGNATION AND INSCRIPTIONS.—On each coin minted 
under this title there shall be— 
(A) a designation of the value of the coin; 
(B) an inscription of the year "2004" and the years 
"1804-1806"; and 
(C) inscriptions of the words "Liberty", "In God We 
Trust", "United States of America", and "E Pluribus 
Unum". 
(3) OBVERSE OF COIN.—The obverse of each coin minted 
under this title shall bear the likeness of Meriwether Lewis 
and William Clark. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-126—DEC. 6, 1999 
113 STAT. 1649 
(4) GENERAL DESIGN.—In designing this coin, the Secretary 
shall also consider incorporating appropriate elements from 
the Jefferson Peace and Friendship Medal which Lewis and 
Clark presented to the Chiefs of the various Indisin tribes 
they encountered and shall consider recognizing Native Amer-
ican culture. 
(b) SELECTION.—The design for the coins minted under this 
title shall be selected by the Secretary after consultation with 
the Commission of Fine Arts and shall be reviewed by the Citizens 
Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 306. ISSUANCE OF COINS. 
(a) QUALITY OF COINS.—Coins minted under this title shall 
be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities. 
(b) MINT FACILITY.—Only one faciHty of the United States 
Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins 
minted under this title. 
(c) PERIOD FOR ISSUANCE.—The Secretary may issue coins 
minted under this title only during the period beginning on January 
1, 2004, and ending on December 31, 2004. 
SEC. 307. SALE OF COINS. 
(a) SALE PRICE.—The coins issued under this title shall be 
sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum o
f
— 
(1) the face value of the coins; 
(2) the surcharge provided in subsection (d) 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 title at a reasonable discount. 
(c) PREPAID ORDERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders 
for the coins minted under this title before the issuEince of 
such coins. 
(2) DISCOUNT.—Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders 
under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount. 
(d) SURCHARGES.—All sales of coins minted under this title 
shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin. 
SEC. 308. DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United 
States Code, the proceeds from the surcharges received by the 
Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this title shall be 
promptly paid by the Secretary as follows: 
(1) NATIONAL LEWIS AND CLARK BICENTENNIAL COUNCIL.— 
Two-thirds to the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial 
Council, for activities associated with commemorating the 
bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 
(2) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.—One-third to the National 
Park Service for activities associated with commemorating the 
bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 
(b) AUDITS.—Each organization that receives any payment from 
the Secretary under this section shall be subject to the audit 
requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code. 
113 STAT. 1650 
PUBLIC LAW 106-126—DEC. 6, 1999 
SEC. 309. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES. 
(a) No NET COST TO THE GOVERNMENT.—The Secretary shall 
take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that minting 
£ind issuing coins under this title will not result in any net cost 
to the United States Government. 
(b) PAYMENT FOR COINS.—^A coin shall not be issued imder 
this title unless the Secreteiry has received— 
(1) full payment for the coin; 
(2) security satisfactory to the Secretary to indemnify the 
United States for full payment; or 
(3) a guarantee of full payment satisfactory to the Secretary 
from a depository institution whose deposits are insured by 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National 
Credit Union Administration Board. 
Approved December 6, 1999. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3373: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999): 
Nov. 16, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.