PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 24, 2025
Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in recognition of the bicentennial of the Erie Canal. The designs of the coins must be emblematic of the Erie Canal and its impact on the development of the United States and New York.
All sales of coins issued under this bill must include a surcharge to be paid to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., to support the historic preservation and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in New York and for educational and commemorative programs.
People & committees
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] · R–NY
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Oct 6, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.1546 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.1546 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.1546 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.1546 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.
PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-24 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposal would require Treasury to produce gold, silver, and half-dollar collector coins commemorating the Erie Canal, with issuance limited to 2026. Buyers would pay prices that include production costs and extra charges, subject to discounts and a limit on those charges. The extra charges would support the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund’s preservation, recreation, education, and related work. Treasury would have to recover all coin-program costs before distributing funds to the recipient.
The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary) shall mint and issue the following coin:
The designs of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the Erie Canal and its impact on the development of the United States and New York State.
The Secretary may issue coins minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2026.
The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of— (1) the face value of the coins; (2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to such coins; and (3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins
The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., to support the historic preservation, conservation, recreation, interpretation, tourism, and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and for educational and commemorative programs of the Erie Canal’s history and impact on our Nation’s history.
no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation
no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by the United States Treasury
Section 1 would name the legislation the Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act. Section 2 presents congressional findings about the canal’s construction, historical importance, and continuing recreational use; these are the proposal’s stated background, not demonstrated effects of the coin program.
This Act may be cited as the Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act.
The Congress finds the following: (1) Built between 1817 and 1825, the original Erie Canal traversed 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo.
The Erie Canal was one of the most important steps in the United States initiating its industrial revolution, rapidly increasing the productivity of agriculture and the spread of machinery and manufactured goods.
After 200 years the Erie Canal is still a resource for its local communities as a close to home recreational destination for boaters, bikers, and walkers.
Treasury would have to mint and issue $5 gold coins, capped at 50,000. Each would weigh 8.359 grams, measure 0.850 inches across, and contain at least 90 percent gold.
The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary) shall mint and issue the following coin: (1) $5 gold coins Not more than 50,000 $5 coins, which shall— (A) weigh 8.359 grams; (B) have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and (C) contain not less than 90 percent gold.
The proposal would cap $1 silver coins at 400,000. Each would weigh 26.73 grams, measure 1.500 inches across, and contain at least 90 percent silver.
(2) $1 silver coins Not more than 400,000 $1 coins, which shall— (A) weigh 26.73 grams; (B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and (C) contain not less than 90 percent silver.
The proposal would cap half-dollar clad coins at 750,000. Each would weigh 11.34 grams and measure 1.205 inches across. Their metal specifications would follow an existing federal provision that is not reproduced in the bundle.
(3) Half-dollar clad coins Not more than 750,000 half-dollar coins which shall— (A) weigh 11.34 grams; (B) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and (C) be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.
The coins would be legal tender under the cited federal law and would count as collector items, called “numismatic items,” for purposes of two other cited federal provisions.
(b) Legal tender The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code. (c) Numismatic items For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
Coin designs would represent the Erie Canal and its impact on the United States and New York State. Each coin would show its value, the year 2026, and the four required inscriptions.
The designs of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the Erie Canal and its impact on the development of the United States and New York State.
On each coin minted under this Act there shall be— (A) a designation of the value of the coin; (B) an inscription of the year 2026; and (C) inscriptions of the words Liberty, In God We Trust, United States of America, and E Pluribus Unum.
The Treasury Secretary would select the designs after consulting the Commission of Fine Arts and Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc. The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee would review the designs.
The design for the coins minted under this Act shall be— (1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with— (A) the Commission of Fine Arts; and (B) Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc.; and (2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Treasury would issue both uncirculated and proof versions, two coin-quality categories. Issuance would be permitted only during the one-year period starting January 1, 2026.
(a) Quality of coins Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities. (b) Period for issuance The Secretary may issue coins minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2026.
The sale-price formula would add each coin’s face value, its applicable surcharge—an extra charge—and the costs of designing and issuing it. Those costs expressly include labor, materials, production equipment, overhead, marketing, and shipping.
The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of— (1) the face value of the coins; (2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to such coins; and (3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping).
Treasury would have to offer bulk sales at a reasonable discount and accept prepaid orders before issuance, also at a reasonable discount. The bill does not specify the discount amounts.
(b) Bulk sales The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount. (c) Prepaid orders (1) In general The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of such coins. (2) Discount Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
Subject to the bill’s annual-program-limit exception, sales would include a $35 surcharge for each $5 coin, $10 for each $1 coin, and $5 for each half-dollar coin.
All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge of— (1) $35 per coin for the $5 coin; (2) $10 per coin for the $1 coin; and (3) $5 per coin for the half-dollar coin.
Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation
Subject to the referenced federal requirements and recovery of all program costs, Treasury would promptly pay all surcharge receipts to Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc. Permitted purposes would include preservation, conservation, recreation, interpretation, tourism, and community development in the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, plus educational and commemorative programs about the canal’s history and national impact.
Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., to support the historic preservation, conservation, recreation, interpretation, tourism, and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and for educational and commemorative programs of the Erie Canal’s history and impact on our Nation’s history.
no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by the United States Treasury
The surcharge recipient would be subject to audit requirements in the cited federal statute for the money it receives. The bill does not reproduce those audit rules.
The recipient of surcharges under this Act shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under subsection (b).
A surcharge could not be included if issuing the coin would cause the number of commemorative coin programs issued that calendar year to exceed the statutory limit of two. The bill refers to that limit as it exists on enactment and would allow Treasury to issue implementation guidance. This provision restricts surcharges; its wording does not itself prohibit issuing the coin.
Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act). The Secretary may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.
Treasury would have to take necessary steps to ensure the coin program creates no net cost to the federal government. It could not distribute any funds to the designated recipient until Treasury recovered the total cost of designing and issuing all authorized coins. These are proposed financial safeguards, not evidence of actual costs or proceeds.
The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that— (1) minting and issuing coins under this Act will not result in any net cost to the United States Government; and (2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated October 6, 2026, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Financial Services on February 24, 2025. Those entries do not establish subsequent passage or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-06T16:24:10Z. 2025-02-24: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. 2025-02-24: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-24. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
Findings to examine
The text contains a recipient-specific funding direction that warrants earmark scrutiny. This identifies the funding direction, not a confirmed formal earmark classification.
The proposal would direct all coin-sale surcharges to Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., for specified canal-related purposes, rather than provide a competitive or formula allocation. Payment would remain subject to the cited federal requirements and recovery of all program costs.
Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., to support the historic preservation, conservation, recreation, interpretation, tourism, and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and for educational and commemorative programs of the Erie Canal’s history and impact on our Nation’s history.
no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by the United States Treasury
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
Findings to examine
The designation of a single organization as recipient is a narrow financial benefit tied to the bill’s main purpose. This classification is not a judgment about its justification.
Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., would be the sole named recipient of surcharge proceeds for the listed canal-related activities. This targeted benefit is part of the commemorative program itself and would become payable only after Treasury recovers all program costs, subject to the referenced federal requirements.
Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc., to support the historic preservation, conservation, recreation, interpretation, tourism, and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and for educational and commemorative programs of the Erie Canal’s history and impact on our Nation’s history.
no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7 until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by the United States Treasury
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 6, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI