America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4382
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Finance and Financial Sector
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-14: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T08:05:46Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, titled the "America's Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act," requires the Secretary of the Treasury (head of the U.S. Department of the Treasury) to mint and issue special commemorative coins to honor the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, California, and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The goal is to celebrate these events, raise awareness for the Paralympics (especially for people with disabilities), and generate funds for Olympic-related programs through coin sales surcharges, while ensuring no net cost to the federal government.
Key Provisions
The bill includes findings on the historical significance of U.S.-hosted Olympics, defines key terms (e.g., "Secretary" means the Treasury Secretary), and establishes two nearly identical coin programs for 2028 and 2034.
Coin Specifications (for Both Programs)
- Types and Limits:
- Up to 100,000 $5 gold coins (8.359 grams, 0.850 inches diameter, at least 90% gold).
- Up to 500,000 $1 silver coins (26.73 grams, 1.500 inches diameter, at least 90% silver).
- Up to 300,000 half-dollar clad coins (11.34 grams, 1.205 inches diameter, standard U.S. half-dollar specs).
- Up to 100,000 proof $1 silver coins (5 ounces, 3 inches diameter, 99.9% pure silver).
- Mintage (number produced) can increase if the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) conducts market research showing higher public demand.
- Coins are legal tender (can be used for payments) and classified as numismatic items (collectibles subject to special sales rules under U.S. law).
Designs
- Designs must symbolize U.S. athletes' participation (or event staging for 2034 winter games).
- Required inscriptions: Coin value, year (2028 or 2034), "Liberty," "In God We Trust," "United States of America," and "E Pluribus Unum" (Latin for "Out of many, one").
- Designs selected by the Secretary after consulting the relevant Olympic organizing group (e.g., USOPC for 2028) and the Commission of Fine Arts, then reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (a public advisory group on coin designs).
Issuance and Sales
- Issued in uncirculated (standard quality) or proof (high-polish collectible) versions.
- Available only for one year, starting January 1, 2028 (for LA games) or January 1, 2034 (for Salt Lake City games).
- Sold at face value plus production costs and a surcharge; bulk sales and prepaid orders get reasonable discounts.
- Secretary encouraged to run marketing programs, including partnerships with Olympic groups.
Surcharges and Distribution
- Fixed surcharges per coin: $35 ($5 gold), $10 ($1 silver), $5 (half-dollar), $50 (proof silver).
- Surcharges go to:
- For 2028: USOPC, to support hosting, legacy programs like youth sports, and Paralympic inclusivity.
- For 2034: The 2034 Organizing Committee, for hosting, winter sports protection, and programs for young/elite athletes.
- Funds disbursed only after all production costs are recovered by the Treasury (no net federal cost).
- Recipients must follow federal audit rules for accountability.
- Limitation: No surcharges if issuing these coins would exceed the annual cap of 2 commemorative coin programs under existing law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- New Programs: Authorizes two specific commemorative coin programs, which could count toward the existing federal limit of 2 such programs per year (under 31 U.S.C. § 5112(m)), potentially blocking other commemorative ideas in 2028 and 2034 unless adjusted.
- Flexibility in Mintage: Introduces a new exception allowing increased production based on USOPC market research, which isn't standard in prior laws.
- Surcharge Allocation: Directs surcharges to Olympic entities for event-specific purposes (e.g., Paralympic awareness and youth sports), building on but tailoring existing rules for numismatic surcharges (31 U.S.C. §§ 5134, 5136).
- No broader changes to currency laws, but reinforces requirements for no net federal cost and full cost recovery before fund distribution.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Mint (under Treasury) must produce, design, market, and sell the coins, increasing workload but with built-in cost recovery to avoid taxpayer burden. Could strain resources if demand exceeds limits.
- Citizens: Provides collectible coins for the public, especially sports fans and numismatists (coin collectors), promoting national pride and Olympic awareness. Surcharges indirectly support youth sports and disability inclusivity without direct taxes.
- International Relations: Highlights U.S. role in global Olympics (first U.S. hosting in 26 years), fostering goodwill with the International Olympic Committee and boosting U.S. image as a sports leader. May enhance cultural exchange through Paralympic focus.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Treasury and Mint: Responsible for minting, sales, and financial oversight.
- U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC): Consults on designs, conducts demand research, and receives 2028 surcharges for programs.
- 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee: Consults on designs and receives 2034 surcharges.
- Athletes and Public: U.S. athletes (featured in designs), coin buyers (collectors and general public), and beneficiaries of funded programs (youth athletes, people with disabilities, winter sports participants).
- Advisory Groups: Commission of Fine Arts and Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (involved in design review).
- Private Funders: Olympic events' corporate partners and broadcasters, indirectly supported by coin revenue.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate currency (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8). Incorporates existing safeguards like audits and cost recovery to prevent misuse of funds, ensuring compliance with federal coinage statutes. The annual program limit could spark debates if it conflicts with other commemorative proposals.
- Constitutional: No major issues; it's a routine exercise of spending and commerce powers, with private funding model for Olympics avoiding direct federal subsidies.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from Democrats and Republicans across states) signals broad support for national events. Promotes inclusivity for Paralympics, potentially advancing disability rights awareness. Could face scrutiny over opportunity costs for other federal priorities, but emphasizes self-funding to minimize controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (144)
Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3], Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2], Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35], Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7] and 94 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-14: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-07-14: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act — issued 2025-07-14 — PDF (16 pages)