World War I American Veterans Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2366, the World War I
American Veterans Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, introduced by
Representative Doug Lamborn of Colorado's Fifth Congressional District,
and seek its immediate passage.

Mr. Speaker, as you may know, this summer marked the 100th
anniversary of the start of World War I. The United States formally
joined the war in April of 1917. During that time, more than 4.7
million Americans served, and of those brave men and women, more than
116,000 soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice.

While other great conflicts, including the Civil War, World War II,
the Korean war, and the Vietnam war, have all been memorialized on
United States commemorative coins, there currently exists no coin to
honor the brave veterans of World War I. This bill would honor their
service by directing the Secretary of the Treasury to, number one, hold
a competition to design the coins and, number two, mint and issue $1
silver coins in commemoration of the centennial of America's
involvement in World War I.

The sale of the coins will assist the World War I Centennial
Commission in raising funds that will be utilized in commemorating U.S.
involvement in the Great War and educating a new generation of
Americans about the role the United States assumed in that war.

I am also pleased to report that the passage of this bill entails no
net cost to taxpayers.

I would urge my colleagues to join me in passing this commonsense,
bipartisan bill without further delay.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source