#aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aahb ,,an ,,act ,to require the ,secretary of the ,treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the #ajjth anniversary of ,the ,american ,legion4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as ,the ,american ,legion #ajjth ,anniversary ,commemorative ,coin ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 on ,march #ae1 #aiai1 ,the ,american ,legion was founded in ,paris1 ,france1 by members of the ,american ,expeditionary ,force occupying ,europe after ,world ,war ,i and concerned about the welfare of their comrades and communities upon their return to the ,united ,states2 7#b7 on ,september #af1 #aiai1 ,congress chartered ,the ,american ,legion1 which quickly grew to become the largest veterans service organization in the ,united ,states2 7#c7 ,the ,american ,legion conferences in ,washington1 ,,dc1 in #aibc and #aibd crafted the first ,united ,states ,flag ,code1 which was adopted in schools1 ,states1 cities and counties prior to being enacted in #aidb1 establishing the proper use1 display1 and respect for the colors of the ,united ,states2 7#d7 during ,world ,war ,,ii1 ,the ,american ,legion developed and presented to ,congress its case for vastly improved support for medically discharged1 disabled veterans1 which ultimately became the ,servicemen's ,readjustment ,act of #aidd 7#eh ,stat4 #bhd2 chapter #bfh71 better known as the ,g4,i4 ,bill of ,rights1 and was drafted by former ,american ,legion ,national ,commander ,harry ,w4 ,colmery in ,washington's ,mayflower ,hotel2 7#e7 through the leadership and advocacy of ,the ,american ,legion1 the ,g4,i4 ,bill was enacted in ,june #aidd1 which led to monumental changes in ,united ,states society1 including the democratization of higher education1 home ownership for average people in the ,united ,states1 better ,,va hospitals1 business and farm loans for veterans1 and the ability to appeal conditions of military discharge2 7#f7 defying those who argued the ,g4,i4 ,bill would break the ,treasury1 according to various researchers1 the ,g4,i4 ,bill provided a tremendous return on investment of #g to the ,united ,states economy for every #a spent on the program1 triggering a half-century of prosperity in the ,united ,states2 7#g7 after ,hurricane ,hugo in #aihi1 ,the ,american ,legion established the ,national ,emergency ,fund to provide immediate cash relief for veterans who have been affected by natural disasters2 7#h7 ,american ,legion ,national ,emergency ,fund grants after ,hurricanes ,katrina and ,rita in #bjje1 for instance1 exceeded #a1gjj1jjj2 7#i7 ,the ,american ,legion fought to see the ,veterans ,administration elevated to ,cabinet-level status as the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 ensuring support for veterans would be set at the highest level of the ,federal ,government1 as a priority issue for the ,president2 7#aj7 after a decades-long struggle to improve the adjudication process for veterans disputing claims decisions1 ,the ,american ,legion helped shape and introduce the ,veterans ,reassurance ,act to create a venue for judicial review of veterans' appeals2 7#aa7 building on these efforts1 legislation was passed in #aihh to create the ,united ,states ,court of ,veterans ,appeals1 today known as the ,united ,states ,court of ,appeals for ,veterans ,claims2 7#ab7 ,the ,american ,legion created the ,american ,legacy ,scholarship ,fund for children of military members killed on active duty on or after ,september #aa1 #bjja2 7#ac7 in #bjaf1 ,the ,american ,legion's ,national ,executive ,committee amended the original scholarship criteria to include children of veterans with #ej percent or greater ,,va disability ratings2 7#ad7 ,president ,george ,w4 ,bush signed into law the ,post-#i_/aa ,veterans ,educational ,assistance ,act 7title ,v of the ,supplemental ,appropriations ,act1 #bjjh2 #abb ,stat4 #bceg71 a next-generation ,g4,i4 ,bill strongly supported by ,the ,american ,legion and the most comprehensive educational benefits package since the original ,g4,i4 ,bill of ,rights was enacted in #aidd2 7#ae7 in ,august #bjah1 ,the ,american ,legion will begin its centennial recognition at the #ajjth ,national ,convention in ,minneapolis1 ,minnesota1 the site of the first ,american ,legion ,national ,convention2 and 7#af7 in ,march #bjai1 the organization will celebrate its #ajjth birthday in ,paris1 ,france1 and ,september #af1 #bjai1 will mark the #ajjth anniversary of ,the ,american ,legion's ,federal charter4 #c4 ,coin specifications 7a7 ,denominations ,in recognition and celebration of the #ajjth anniversary of ,the ,american ,legion1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury 7hereafter in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary7 shall mint and issue the following coins3 7#a7 #e gold coins ,not more than #ej1jjj #e coins1 which shall-- 7,a7 weigh #h4cei grams2 7,b7 have a diameter of #j4hej inches2 and 7,c7 contain not less than #ij percent gold4 7#b7 #a silver coins ,not more than #djj1jjj #a coins1 which shall-- 7,a7 weigh #bf4gc grams2 7,b7 have a diameter of #a4ejj inches2 and 7,c7 contain not less than #ij percent silver4 7#c7 ,half-dollar clad coins ,not more than #gej1jjj half-dollar coins which shall-- 7,a7 weigh #aa4cd grams2 7,b7 have a diameter of #a4bje inches2 and 7,c7 be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins contained in section #eaab7;b7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7b7 ,legal tender ,the coins minted under this ,act shall be legal tender1 as provided in section #eajc of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 7c7 ,numismatic items ,for purposes of sections #eacd and #eacf of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 all coins minted under this ,act shall be considered to be numismatic items4 #d4 ,design of coins 7a7 ,in general ,the design for the coins minted under this ,act shall be emblematic of ,the ,american ,legion4 7b7 ,designations and inscriptions ,on each coin minted under this ,act there shall be-- 7#a7 a designation of the denomination of the coin2 7#b7 an inscription of the year #bjai2 and 7#c7 inscriptions of the words ,liberty1 ,in ,god ,we ,trust1 ,united ,states of ,america1 and ,e ,pluribus ,unum4 7c7 ,selection ,the design for the coins minted under this ,act shall be-- 7#a7 selected by the ,secretary after consultation with-- 7,a7 the ,commission of ,fine ,arts2 and 7,b7 the ,adjutant of ,the ,american ,legion1 as defined in the constitution and bylaws of ,the ,american ,legion2 and 7#b7 reviewed by the ,citizens ,commemorative ,coin ,advisory ,committee4 #e4 ,issuance of coins 7a7 ,quality of coins ,coins minted under this ,act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities4 7b7 ,period for issuance ,the ,secretary may issue coins minted under this ,act only during the #a-year period beginning on ,january #a1 #bjai4 #f4 ,sale of coins 7a7 ,sale price ,the coins issued under this ,act shall be sold by the ,secretary at a price based upon the sum of-- 7#a7 the face value of the coins2 7#b7 the surcharge provided in section #g7;a7 with respect to such coins2 and 7#c7 the cost of designing and issuing the coins 7including labor1 materials1 dies1 use of machinery1 overhead expenses1 marketing1 and shipping74 7b7 ,bulk sales ,the ,secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this ,act at a reasonable discount4 7c7 ,prepaid orders 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this ,act before the issuance of such coins4 7#b7 ,discount ,sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph 7#a7 shall be at a reasonable discount4 #g4 ,surcharges 7a7 ,in general ,all sales of coins minted under this ,act shall include a surcharge as follows3 7#a7 ,a surcharge of #ce per coin for the #e coin4 7#b7 ,a surcharge of #aj per coin for the #a coin described under section #c7;a77#b74 7#c7 ,a surcharge of #e per coin for the half-dollar coin4 7b7 ,distribution ,subject to section #eacd7;f7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 all surcharges received by the ,secretary from the sale of coins issued under this ,act shall be promptly paid by the ,secretary to ,the ,american ,legion for costs related to-- 7#a7 promoting the importance of1 and caring for1 those who have served in uniform1 ensuring they receive proper health care and disability benefits earned through military service2 7#b7 promoting the importance of1 and caring for1 those who are still serving in the ,armed ,forces2 7#c7 promoting the importance of maintaining the patriotic values1 morals1 culture1 and citizenship of the ,united ,states2 and 7#d7 promoting the importance of maintaining strong families1 assistance for at-risk children1 and activities that promote their healthy and wholesome development4 7c7 ,limitation ,notwithstanding subsection 7a71 no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this ,act of any coin during a calendar year if1 as of the time of such issuance1 the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section #eaab7m77#a7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code 7as in effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act74 ,the ,secretary of the ,treasury may issue guidance to carry out this subsection4 7d7 ,audit ,each recipient described in subsection 7b7 shall be subject to the audit requirements of section #eacd7;f77#b7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 with regard to the amounts received under subsection 7b74 #h4 ,financial assurances ,the ,secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that-- 7#a7 minting and issuing coins under this ,act will not result in any net cost to the ,united ,states ,government2 and 7#b7 no funds1 including applicable surcharges1 are disbursed to any recipient designated in section #g until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this ,act 7including labor1 materials1 dies1 use of machinery1 overhead expenses1 marketing1 and shipping7 is recovered by the ,united ,states ,treasury1 consistent with sections #eaab7m7 and #eacd7;f7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code4 ,passed the ,senate ,august #c1 #bjag4,secretary