The House unanimously passed a bill Monday authorizing a special collectible coin to be minted in honor of the United States’s 250th anniversary of independence.
The bill, spearheaded by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), is headed to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval. It would require the Treasury Department to mint a $2.50 coin by July 4, and feature the historic design originally issued for America’s 150th anniversary in 1926, updated to reflect the new milestone, according to Aderholt’s office. It is designed to ensure the public has a tangible way to take part in the milestone, the congressman said.
“This coin is about more than a piece of metal; it’s about celebration, pride, and patriotism,” the Alabama lawmaker said.
“I still remember America’s 200th birthday in 1976 when I was 10 years old, and the incredible excitement and national unity that came with it,” Aderholt continued in a statement. “That Bicentennial celebration was something special, and I hope this coin helps spur that same kind of celebration and patriotism across our country as we approach America’s 250th anniversary. Americans from all walks of life should be able to carry a small reminder of our nation’s greatness with them every day, celebrating our country jingling right there in their pockets.”
The bill also calls for a study on whether the coin could be used for everyday circulation.
The House also passed a measure to create a congressional time capsule on Monday. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman’s (D-NJ) bill has already passed the Senate and is now heading to the president’s desk to be signed into law. It would authorize the Architect of the Capitol to bury a time capsule commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, to be opened on the country’s 500th anniversary in 2276.
The legislative efforts are among a myriad of measures being planned to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial. President Donald Trump is leading efforts to celebrate the anniversary through historic sports events, including a UFC fight on the White House lawn and an IndyCar race in Washington, D.C.
WHITE HOUSE REVIEW OF SMITHSONIAN’S AMERICA 250 PLANS UNDERWAY
Freedom 250, an organization spearheaded by Trump, is coordinating the IndyCar race, which officials hope will bring in millions in tourism revenue. America250, the organization tasked by Congress to mark the milestone, is also overseeing an array of initiatives and events.
Meanwhile, states across the country, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York, are preparing other events, including plans to entertain the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world as part of Sail250.
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