$2.50 FOR AMERICA'S 250TH ACT

On 2026-02-09, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) delivered a floor speech titled "$2.50 FOR AMERICA'S 250TH ACT" in the House. The speech addressed the economy and also covered taxes, the environment. It referenced legislation: HR5616.

$2.50 FOR AMERICA'S 250TH ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 27 (Monday, February 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 27 (Monday, February 9, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2048-H2050] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] $2.50 FOR AMERICA'S 250TH ACT Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5616) to amend title 31, United States Code, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $2.50 numismatic coins and $2.50 circulating coins, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5616 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``$2.50 for America's 250th Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence was a turning point in the history of the United States and the world that warrants national recognition. (2) The 68th Congress celebrated this fact by authorizing the United States Mint to commemorate the 150th anniversary of American independence by issuing $2.50 coins. (3) The issuance of a $2.50 anniversary coin for the 250th anniversary serves as a historically grounded continuation of this numismatic tradition and connects Americans today with a legacy of national celebration through coinage. (4) The design and distribution of this coin offer a unique and accessible opportunity for the American people to engage with and take personal ownership of their national heritage through a tangible and lasting tribute. (5) Every citizen deserves the opportunity to acquire such a coin as a means to connect to the founding principles of liberty, democracy, and self-governance. (6) In addition to the congressionally authorized activities already planned by the mint, this new anniversary coin will serve not only as a lasting tribute to the founding generation and the ideals we share with them to this day, but also as a unifying and educational gesture on the occasion of the semiquincentennial. SEC. 3. MINTING AND ISSUING OF $2.50 NUMISMATIC COINS. (a) In General.--Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(bb) Numismatic $2.50 Coin.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may mint and issue-- ``(A) not more than 100,000 $2.50 numismatic coins, each of which shall weigh 4.1795 grams, have a diameter of 0.425 inches, and contain not less than 90 percent gold ``(B) not more than 300,000 $2.50 numismatic coins, each of which shall weigh 26.73 grams, have a diameter of 1.5 inches, and contain not less than 90 percent silver. ``(C) not more than 750,000 $2.50 numismatic coins, each of which shall weigh 11.34 grams, have a diameter of 1.205 inches, and be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code. ``(2) Design.-- ``(A) Obverse.--The obverse design of any coin minted and issued under this subsection shall, during the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image of allegorical liberty wielding the Declaration of Independence featured on the gold $2.50 Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926. ``(B) Reverse.--The reverse design of any coin minted and issued under this subsection shall, during the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any coin under this subsection, bear the image of Independence Hall featured on the gold $2.50 Sesquicentennial Coin issued in 1926. ``(C) Additional inscriptions.--During the 2-year period beginning on the date the Secretary issues any coin under this subsection, each coin minted and issued under this subsection shall bear the inscriptions `Semiquincentennial of the United States' and `1776-2026'.''. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the numismatic coins described in section 5112(bb) of title 31, United States Code, should be minted and issued not later than July 4, 2026, or as soon as it is technically and economically feasible. SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT. (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the United States Mint shall conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate the feasibility, practicality, and potential public benefits of minting and issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation in the United States. (b) Report.--The Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Director of the United States Mint shall, not later than September 15, 2026, submit a report to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate about the study carried out under subsection (a) that includes-- (1) an analysis of the historical use of the $2.50 denomination; (2) projected production costs associated with minting and issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation; (3) the cost-effectiveness of minting and issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation when compared to the costs associated with minting and issuing other coins; (4) an evaluation of potential benefits to commerce, coin handling, and transaction efficiency that would be associated with the minting and issuing a $2.50 coin for wide circulation; (5) proposed physical characteristics of a $2.50 coin, including-- (A) composition; (B) weight; (C) diameter; and (D) design features to distinguish the $2.50 coin from existing coins; (6) a description of the ways in which the Secretary consulted with stakeholders, including commercial banks, cash-handling businesses, consumer groups, and vending and transit industries; (7) an analysis that estimates the potential seigniorage associated with a widely circulated $2.50 coin; and (8) a plan that could be followed to mint and issue a $2.50 coin that includes-- (A) coordination with the Federal Reserve System and financial institutions; (B) a test production phase; and (C) an initial phased circulation. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas. General Leave Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas? There was no objection. Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the bill sponsored by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), my good friend, the $2.50 for America's 250th Act. The greatest experiment in the history of the world, the United States of America, is still going stronger than ever, and 2026 marks our Nation's 250th birthday, an incredible feat as our Founders came together, found common ground, and voted to declare independence from Great Britain. [[Page H2049]] Over the past 250 years, America has embodied the shining city on the hill that John Winthrop envisioned in his famous 1630 sermon. Grounded in the ideas at the heart of the Declaration that all men are created equal and that governments derive their power not from the divine right of kings but from the consent of the people, the United States has made the world more free and more prosperous over our two-and-a-half centuries. To celebrate our semiquincentennial, H.R. 5616 will authorize the United States Secretary of the Treasury to issue special $2.50 numismatic coins. This continues a long tradition of marking significant milestones with coins that give everyday Americans tangible reminders of these historic moments. Mr. Aderholt and I are both old enough, Madam Speaker, to recall the bicentennial tradition of that feature of special coin or printed bill issuance and how our grandfathers instilled in us American history and a love of country. We were not there for the first $2.50 coin authorized under the legislation that we have today because it marked the 150th anniversary of the United States a century ago. America is the land of freedom and the beacon of hope for many around the world, something that all of us who have the privilege and honor of living here should never take for granted, and certainly no one on this House floor who has the privilege of representing our citizens takes for granted. Every day I wake up proud to be an American, and I thank Mr. Aderholt for his contribution in celebrating 250 years of independence. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on H.R. 5616, the $2.50 for America's 250th Act, sponsored by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt). This legislation directs the Treasury Secretary to mint and issue a $2.50 collectible coin to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence later this year. Under this bill, the Treasury would also conduct a study to evaluate minting and issuing a separate $2.50 coin for wide circulation in the United States. For starters, I am glad this legislation now considers the cost- effectiveness of a potential $2.50 circulating coin. This is important, especially as President Trump's abrupt decision to stop production of the penny last year, without any meaningful plan, created problems that retailers, banks, and consumers are still dealing with today. This is the mess we are now forced to clean up. Additionally, to be clear, I was deeply concerned by the language in the introduced version of this legislation, which may have been interpreted by the Treasury Secretary to allow him to select a new design for a $2.50 coin. We are already witnessin

Referenced legislation: HR5616, HR5616