S. 239
Became lawChrista McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019
Plain-language analysis
AI analysis · 95% confidenceAI-generated breakdown of the bill’s full text (below), checked by an independent review pass before publishing. It is analysis, not the law itself — the verbatim text and official source are the record.
In plain terms
S. 239 orders the Treasury to strike up to 350,000 commemorative $1 coins honoring Christa McAuliffe, the New Hampshire teacher chosen for NASA's Teacher in Space program who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion. The bill sets the coins' physical specifications (26.73 grams, 1.5 inches, at least 90 percent silver), requires McAuliffe's likeness on the front and a design reflecting her legacy as a teacher on the back, and allows the coins to be sold only during calendar year 2020 in uncirculated and proof versions. Buyers pay face value plus production costs plus a $10-per-coin surcharge, and every dollar of that surcharge goes to FIRST, the youth robotics organization, to support science and technology education. The bill also requires that the program cost taxpayers nothing: the surcharge money is handed over only after Treasury has recouped the full cost of designing and minting the coins, and the recipient is subject to standard federal audit rules.
Hidden provisions
Withheld — not yet measured.
Questionable / off-intent provisions
Withheld — not yet measured.
Junk / unrelated provisions
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How we decide what to publish →Full text of the bill
Official source on Congress.gov ↗[116th Congress Public Law 65] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 1123]]
CHRISTA MCAULIFFE COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT OF 2019
[[Page 133 STAT. 1124]]
Public Law 116-65 116th Congress
An Act
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition of Christa McAuliffe. <<NOTE: Oct. 9, 2019 - [S. 239}>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019. 31 USC 5112 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Christa McAuliffe was a social studies teacher at Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire.
(2) In 1985, Christa McAuliffe was selected to be the first participant in the Teacher in Space program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(3) On January 28, 1986, Christa McAuliffe and 6 other astronauts were tragically killed during the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
(4) In 1989, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (in this Act referred to as ``FIRST'') was founded to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology.
(5) The mission of FIRST ``is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership''.
(6) 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of FIRST.
(7) Each year, more than 1,000,000 children from the United States and more than 86 countries participate in a FIRST program.
(8) Studies have shown that alumni of FIRST programs are more likely to become scientists and engineers and to volunteer in their communities.
(9) FIRST is dedicated to carrying on the mission of Christa McAuliffe of inspiring students and creating a new generation of dreamers and innovators.
(10) 2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy.
[[Page 133 STAT. 1125]]
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--In commemoration of Christa McAuliffe, the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall mint and issue not more than 350,000 $1 coins, each of which shall--
(1) weigh 26.73 grams;
(2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(3) contain at least 90 percent silver.
(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 bear--
(A) an image of and the name of Christa McAuliffe on the obverse side; and
(B) a design on the reverse side that depicts the legacy of Christa McAuliffe as a teacher.
(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 ``2021''; 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) <<NOTE: Consultation.>> selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the family of Christa McAuliffe, FIRST, and the Commission of Fine Arts; and
(2) <<NOTE: Review.>> 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 under this Act only during the period beginning on January 1, 2021, and ending on December 31, 2021.
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 under section 7(a) with respect to the coins; and
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins, including--
(A) labor;
(B) materials;
(C) dies;
(D) use of machinery;
[[Page 133 STAT. 1126]]
(E) overhead expenses;
(F) marketing; and
(G) 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 the 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 of $10 per coin.
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, and section 8(2), all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the FIRST robotics program for the purpose of engaging and inspiring young people, through mentor-based programs, to become leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(c) Audits.--The FIRST robotics program shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the amounts received under subsection (b).
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 result in no net cost to the Federal Government; and
(2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, are disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7(b) 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.
Approved October 9, 2019.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 239: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 165 (2019): July 9, considered and passed Senate. Sept. 19, considered and passed House.
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