Dog DaysThe term Dog Days goes back to ancient Roman times when calendars were measured by the stars. While trying to measure time, the hottest part of the summer would coincide with the brightest star, Sirius, being dominant in the sky. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major (big dog).

During the period from about 20 days prior to the height of Sirius to 20 days following, Canis Major would only appear with the sunrise and sunset. Because ancient Romans thought Sirius contributed to the heat and humidity, this period would be called the Dog Days.

Today’s society has attached many meanings to the Dog Days of Summer. In baseball, it is the jockeying for position to get ready for the pennant races. Football begins training camps, politicians warm up to run for office (sometimes a year early), and the temperatures are rising with the east getting too wet and the west not getting wet enough.

These contrasts illustrate a congress that sometimes looks like they are really trying to do something and then really trying to put the “fun” in dysfunctional!

In July, it looks like congress really tried to do some work. Here are the coin-related legislative actions from our from our representatives on Capitol Hill:

It’s the law!

H.R. 893: Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)
• Introduced: February 11, 2015
• Signed by the President: July 6, 2015
Public Law 114-30
• Summary:

  • 2017 Commemorative program
  • 50,000 $5 gold coins with $35 surcharge
  • 350,000 silver $1 coins with $10 surcharge
  • 300,000 clad half-dollars with $5 surcharge
  • Surcharge paid to Boys Town

Read the details of this law at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr893

Passed the House

H.R. 2722: Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
• Introduced: June 10, 2015
• Passed the House: July 15, 2015
• Received by the Senate: July 16, 2015
• Referred to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
• Summary:

  • 2018 Commemorative program
  • 50,000 $5 gold coins with $35 surcharge
  • 400,000 silver $1 coins with $10 surcharge
  • 750,000 clad half-dollars with $5 surcharge
  • Surcharge paid to Breast Cancer Research Foundation for the purpose of furthering breast cancer research

Track this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr2722

Commemorative Coin Legislation Introduced

H.R. 2980: Mayflower Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL)
• Introduced: July 8, 2015
• Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services
• Summary:

  • 2020 Commemorative program
  • 50,000 $5 gold coins with $35 surcharge
  • 100,000 silver $1 coins with $10 surcharge
  • Surcharge paid to General Society of Mayflower Descendants for educational purposes.

Track this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr2980

S. 1715: Mayflower Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND)
• Introduced: July 8, 2015
• Referred to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
• Summary: see H.R. 2980, above

Track this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1715

H.R. 2978: Thirteenth Amendment Commemorative Coin Act
Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
• Introduced: Jul 8, 2015
• Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services
• Summary:

  • 2015 Commemorative program
  • 250,000 $50 bi-metallic (gold & platinum) with $10 surcharge
  • 250,000 $20 gold coins with $10 surcharge
  • 500,000 silver $1 coins with $10 surcharge
  • Surcharge paid to Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Track this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr2978

Other coin-related legislation

H.R. 3097: Commemorative Coins Reform Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI)
• Introduced: Jul 16, 2015
• Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services
• Summary: If passed, this bill will prohibit payment of surcharges from commemorative coins to organizations outside of the federal government.

Track this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr3097

H.R. 3300: To reduce waste and implement cost savings and revenue enhancement for the Federal Government.
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC)
Sec. 205. Replacing the $1 note with the $1 coin (see: http://bit.ly/114hr3300Sec205)
• Introduced: Jul 29, 2015
• Referred to many committees including the House Committee on Financial Services

Track this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr3300

Image courtesy of Sports at the Beach

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