United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1995

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 18, 1995

United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1995 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 1 million five-cent coins each year for a three-year period beginning on January 1, 1998. Mandates that the design of the coins be a reproduction of the original five-cent coin designed by James Earle Fraser and minted from 1913 to 1938, depicting on one side a profile of a Native American, and on the reverse side a buffalo. Requires the Secretary to pay surcharges from the sale of such coins to the National Park Foundation for deposit in the Park Maintenance and Upkeep Fund, to be used solely and exclusively for the maintenance, repair, and general upkeep of facilities within the units of the National Park System.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

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

Committees

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

5 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.

May 18, 1995
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking.
May 18, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6912)
May 18, 1995
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 · May 18, 1995 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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Objective

Analyze S.817 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.817, 104th Congress: United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1995

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/817

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-05-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s817/BILLS-104s817is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:47Z. 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.817 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.817 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.817, 104th Congress: United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1995

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/817

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-05-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s817/BILLS-104s817is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:47Z. 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.817 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.817 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.817, 104th Congress: United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1995

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/817

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-05-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s817/BILLS-104s817is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:47Z. 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.817 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.817 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.817, 104th Congress: United States Buffalo Nickel Act of 1995

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/817

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-05-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s817/BILLS-104s817is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:14:47Z. 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.817 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.