Thomas Alva Edison Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 11, 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Commemorative Coins Title II: Circulating Coins Thomas Alva Edison Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Act - Title I: Commemorative Coins - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint one-dollar silver coins emblematic of the inventions of Thomas Alva Edison in commemoration of the sesquicentennial of his birth. Directs the Secretary to conduct an open design competition for the design of the obverse and reverse of the coins. Terminates the authority to mint such coins after December 31, 1997. Requires that certain surcharges received from coin sales be distributed to specified entities. Title II: Circulating Coins - Amends Federal law to declare that half-dollar coins minted between specified dates shall have the same design as the commemorative coins minted under this Act.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · D–NJ

Committees

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

6 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.

Feb 11, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking.
Feb 11, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1232)
Feb 11, 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 · Feb 11, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 678 · Thomas Alva Edison Commemorative Coin Act

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

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Objective

Analyze S.299 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.299, 105th Congress: Thomas Alva Edison Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/299

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-02-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s299/BILLS-105s299is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:12:03Z. 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.299 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.299 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.299, 105th Congress: Thomas Alva Edison Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/299

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-02-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s299/BILLS-105s299is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:12:03Z. 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.299 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.299 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.299, 105th Congress: Thomas Alva Edison Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/299

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-02-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s299/BILLS-105s299is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:12:03Z. 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.299 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.299 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 S.299, 105th Congress: Thomas Alva Edison Sesquicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/299

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-02-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s299/BILLS-105s299is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:12:03Z. 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.299 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.