During an election year, especially one that has become very contentious, having any legislation passed would be seen as something of a miracle. This past month, there was only one bill introduced in each chamber.
H.R. 4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
Read the details of this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr4592
S. 2598: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
Read the details of this bill at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s2598
Introducing bill like this one to honor the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame simultaneously in both chambers is common. Members that want to push this type of legislation for the people back home can hope that it is taken up at one end or the other on Capital Hill. It only slightly increases the odds of passage.
For this bill, it is proposing a gold $5, silver dollar, and clad half-dollar coins “with such design being emblematic of the game of basketball.” The bill calls for a design competition with the selected designer receiving a $5,000 award.
The bill calls for the usual surcharges ($35 for the gold coin, $10 per silver, and $5 per half dollar) that will be paid “to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to fund an endowment that will enable the further operations of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.”
For some reason, when I saw this bill all I could think about was that old commercial starring Michael Jordan and Larry Bird competing for a fast food lunch. If you do not remember, here is the ad: