United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1997

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 31, 1997

United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1997 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue five-cent coins based on the original five-cent coin designed by James Earle Fraser and minted from 1913 to 1938. Mandates that: (1) each coin have a profile representation of a Native American on the obverse side, and a representation of a buffalo on the reverse side; (2) coin design shall be selected by the Secretary after consultation with specified congressional committees and reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee; and (3) a one-dollar sales surcharge shall be imposed per coin and distributed to the National Museum of the American Indian to commemorate its tenth anniversary and to supplement its endowment and educational outreach funds.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO] · R–CO

Committees

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

3 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.

Jul 31, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking.
Jul 31, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8574)
Jul 31, 1997
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Jul 31, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.1112 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 S.1112, 105th Congress: United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1112

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-07-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1112/BILLS-105s1112is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:13:13Z. 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 S.1112 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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Progressive lens

Examine S.1112 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 S.1112, 105th Congress: United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1112

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-07-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1112/BILLS-105s1112is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:13:13Z. 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 S.1112 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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Examine S.1112 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 S.1112, 105th Congress: United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1112

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-07-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1112/BILLS-105s1112is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:13:13Z. 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 S.1112 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 S.1112 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.

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Discuss S.1112, 105th Congress: United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1997

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1112

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-07-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1112/BILLS-105s1112is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:13:13Z. 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 S.1112 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.