Cents and Sensibility Act

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 15, 2011

Cents and Sensibility Act - Revises the discretionary authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe the weight and the composition of the alloy of the one-cent coin.

Requires that the one-cent coin be: (1) produced primarily of steel, and (2) treated to impart a copper color to its appearance so that the appearance is similar to one-cent coins produced of a copper-zinc alloy.

Instructs the Secretary, in minting 1-cent coins, to use only steel produced in the United States unless: (1) the Secretary determines doing so would be inconsistent with the public interest, or (2) steel is not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities.

Directs the Secretary to submit to certain congressional committees the initial report concerning production costs and technologies required by the Coin Modernization, Oversight, and Continuity Act of 2010.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Stivers, Steve [R-OH-15] · R–OH

Committees

Financial Services Committee

2 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 29, 2012
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Apr 17, 2012
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jan 12, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology.
Dec 15, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Dec 15, 2011
Introduced in House
Dec 15, 2011
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Dec 15, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 3694 · STEEL Nickel Act

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze H.R.3693 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.

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Discuss H.R.3693, 112th Congress: Cents and Sensibility Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3693

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-12-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3693/BILLS-112hr3693ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:17:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3693 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.

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Examine H.R.3693 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.

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Discuss H.R.3693, 112th Congress: Cents and Sensibility Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3693

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-12-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3693/BILLS-112hr3693ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:17:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3693 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.

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Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3693 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.

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Discuss H.R.3693, 112th Congress: Cents and Sensibility Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3693

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-12-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3693/BILLS-112hr3693ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:17:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3693 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.

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Examine H.R.3693 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3693, 112th Congress: Cents and Sensibility Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3693

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2011-12-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hr3693/BILLS-112hr3693ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:17:21Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3693 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.