HR-1787-119
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Sponsored by Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
What it does
The bill would require the Treasury Secretary to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half-dollar clad coins honoring Roberto Clemente, issued only during calendar year 2027. Each coin would carry a surcharge ($35, $10, or $5), paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation after the Treasury recovers its costs. The Secretary would have to ensure the program creates no net cost to the government, and other limits apply, including a surcharge bar if the annual two-program limit is exceeded.
Who benefits
The Roberto Clemente Foundation, which would receive surcharge revenue for educational, youth sports, and disaster relief purposes. Coin collectors who would gain a new commemorative product. Clemente's family and admirers, and Puerto Rican and Latino communities, who would see him recognized on U.S. coinage.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully harmed. Buyers would pay a price above face value that includes the surcharge and production costs. If the program exceeded the two-per-year commemorative coin limit, other coin programs could be crowded out, and the surcharge would be barred for coins in excess of that limit.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that Clemente's record as a Hall of Fame player, Marine Reserve veteran, civil rights advocate, and humanitarian merits national recognition. They contend the program is self-funding: the Treasury recovers all costs before any surcharge is paid, so taxpayers bear no net cost, while the Foundation receives funds for youth sports, education, and disaster relief.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that commemorative coin programs add to a crowded annual schedule and that Congress already limits them to two per year for that reason. They contend that surcharges directed to one private foundation are a form of federal fundraising for a private group, and that cost-recovery guarantees depend on sales that may fall short of expectations.
Constitutional context
Congress's power to coin money and regulate its value (Art. I, §8, cl. 5), together with the Necessary and Proper Clause, authorizes commemorative coinage. No landmark case turns on commemorative coin programs, and the bill raises no serious constitutional question.
Checks and balances
Congress directs the Treasury Secretary to mint the coins, shifting no new authority among branches; checks include review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, the Commission of Fine Arts, and audit requirements for the Foundation under existing law.
Historical precedent
Congress has regularly authorized commemorative coins with surcharges paid to named organizations under 31 U.S.C. 5112(m) and 5134, such as the Marine Corps 250th Anniversary and Harriet Tubman commemorative coin acts.