President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 457) to require that $1 coins issued during 2019 honor President George H.W. Bush and to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to issue bullion coins during 2019 in honor of Barbara Bush.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 457
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 ``President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act''. SEC. 2. COINS HONORING PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH AND FIRST SPOUSE BARBARA BUSH.
(a) Circulating $1 Coins Honoring President George H.W. Bush.--Notwithstanding subsections (d), (n)(2)(E), (n)(3), (n)(4), and (n)(8) of section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, in addition to the coins to be issued under subsections (r) and (w) of such section 5112, and in accordance with the other provisions of subsection (n) of such section 5112, the Secretary of the Treasury, beginning on January 1, 2020, shall mint and issue $1 coins that bear--
(1) the image of President George H.W. Bush; and
(2) an inscription of the year ``2020''.
(b) Bullion Coins Honoring First Spouse Barbara Bush.-- Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (5)(C) of section 5112(o) of title 31, United States Code, and in accordance with the other provisions of such section 5112(o), the Secretary of the Treasury, beginning on January 1, 2020, shall mint and issue bullion coins that bear--
(1) the image of First Spouse Barbara Bush; and
(2) an inscription of the year ``2020''. SEC. 3. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.
The Secretary of the Treasury shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the minting and issuing of coins under this Act will not result in any net cost to the United States Government.
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 457, the President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act. This bill directs the Treasury to issue $1 coins honoring the life and legacy of President George Herbert Walker Bush as well as a bullion coin commemorating his wife, former First Lady Barbara Bush.
The dollar coin was one of the first silver coins minted in the United States. Since the first dollar coins were struck in 1794, the dollar coin has, on occasion, been minted with the images of various individuals whose leadership, actions, and deeds have played an integral role at key moments in our Nation's history. These include President Dwight D. Eisenhower, suffragist Susan B. Anthony, and, most recently, Lemhi Shoshone guide and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition, Sacagawea.
Beginning in 2007, the Mint sought to honor our Nation's Presidents by issuing $1 coins, featuring their images in the order that they served. The last President to be honored under this program was President Ronald Reagan in 2016.
This bill reauthorizes the Treasury to mint a $1 coin in honor of the late President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, under the Presidential $1 Coin Program.
George Herbert Walker Bush served as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. A career public servant, President Bush served our country as a U.S. Navy pilot during World War II before going on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, as a U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as Director of Central Intelligence, and as the 43rd Vice President of the United States. As President, Bush presided over the collapse of the Soviet Union, German reunification, and the first Gulf war.
In his post-Presidency, Bush is remembered for using his spotlight to support various charities and for working closely with former Presidents Carter and Clinton to encourage public service and encourage aid for victims of natural disasters both at home and abroad.
Barbara Pierce Bush also served as First Lady from 1989 to 1993. A fierce advocate for literacy, Mrs. Bush was dedicated to eliminating generational cycles of illiteracy through her involvement in the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and other reading organizations. As First Lady, she was known as much for her humor and self-deprecating wit as she was for being a keen adviser and confidant to President George H.W. Bush.
In addition to their decades-long careers as public servants, President and Mrs. Bush were the patriarch and matriarch of a family of public servants, including the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, and the former Governor of Florida, John Ellis Bush. Their dedication to patriotism, service, and each other are an inspiration to us all.
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia), a valued new member of the Financial Services Committee.
This bill honors a couple who devoted their lives to public service and were known for their deep faith and commitment to decency and civility.
Mr. Speaker, I am honored to have worked in a bipartisan manner on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.
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