Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
- Committees
- Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Mar 6, 2025
Bottom line
The bill authorizes the minting of commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente, with surcharges benefiting the Roberto Clemente Foundation, at no net cost to the U.S. Government.
What it actually does
This bill mandates the U.S. Treasury to mint and issue commemorative coins ($5 gold, $1 silver, half-dollar clad) in 2027 to honor Roberto Clemente. It specifies design requirements, sales mechanisms including surcharges, and directs the net proceeds from these surcharges to the Roberto Clemente Foundation for its mission, including educational, youth sports, and disaster relief historic preservation. The program is designed to operate at no net cost to the U.S. Government.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that minting these coins appropriately recognizes Roberto Clemente's significant legacy as a baseball icon, humanitarian, and civil rights advocate, particularly for Afro-Latino communities. They emphasize his philanthropic efforts, military service, and groundbreaking achievements in Major League Baseball, believing the coins will inspire future generations and support the charitable work of the Roberto Clemente Foundation.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue against the proliferation of commemorative coin programs, suggesting they can dilute the special nature of such issues or that the U.S. Mint's resources could be better allocated. Some might also raise concerns about the precedent of directing surcharges to specific private foundations, even for charitable purposes, preferring direct appropriations or broader federal programs. However, for a bill of this nature, organized opposition is typically minimal, as it is largely symbolic and self-funding.
The bill is short and clearly written, making it very accessible for a reader to understand its provisions and implications within a short timeframe.
Section 3
Authorization and Denominations of Commemorative Coins
This section mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to mint three types of commemorative coins: up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, up to 400,000 $1 silver coins, and up to 750,000 half-dollar clad coins. It specifies the weight, diameter, and metal content for each denomination, ensuring they meet legal tender requirements.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that these specific denominations and quantities are appropriate for a commemorative program, balancing collectibility with accessibility, and ensuring a significant tribute to Clemente.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against the technical specifications of commemorative coins, assuming the overall program is deemed appropriate.
Tradeoffs
The quantities represent a balance between creating a valuable collectible and making the coins widely available to the public.
Section 4
Design Requirements and Selection Process
This section dictates that the coin designs must be emblematic of Roberto Clemente's life, including his human rights activism and baseball legacy, with at least one obverse design featuring his image. It also specifies mandatory inscriptions like the year '2027' and 'Liberty.' The Secretary of the Treasury is required to consult with the Roberto Clemente Foundation, his living family members, and the Commission of Fine Arts, with review by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, for design selection.
Section 7
Surcharge Collection and Disbursement to Roberto Clemente Foundation
This section establishes surcharges for each coin sold: $35 for $5 gold coins, $10 for $1 silver coins, and $5 for half-dollar coins. These surcharges, after the U.S. Treasury recovers all costs of designing and issuing the coins, are to be paid to the Roberto Clemente Foundation. The funds are designated for the Foundation's general expenses, including educational, youth sports, and disaster relief historic preservation initiatives. The Foundation is also subject to audit requirements.
Section 8
Financial Assurances
This section explicitly states that the minting and issuance of these coins must not result in any net cost to the United States Government. It further ensures that no surcharge funds will be disbursed to the Roberto Clemente Foundation until all costs associated with designing and issuing the coins (labor, materials, marketing, etc.) have been fully recovered by the U.S. Treasury.