Fleet Reserve Association Logo
Fleet Reserve Association Centennial Logo
(Image Credits: The logos presented are either a Registered Trademark or Trademark of the Fleet Reserve Association and are used for educational purposes only.)I've discussed this proposed coin program previously (in July 2023), in one of my "Possible?" threads (2024 Fleet Reserve Association - Possible? #09). With the Association's Centennial long over, and no new legislation for a Fleet Reserve coin program, I thought it would be a good time to dig a bit deeper into the subject and present one of my more typical "What If?" stories.Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) first introduced a Fleet Reserve Association Centennial coin bill in February 2022, in the United States ("US") House of Representatives ("House"), during the 117th Congress. Representative Bilirakis introduced a similar bill in the 118th Congress - it was the subject of my previous post.
The bill proposed Gold Half Eagles (up to 50,000), Silver Dollars (up to 400,000) and Copper-Nickel ("CuNi") Clad Half dollars (up to 750,000) each to be struck in Proof and Uncirculated qualities. The coins were to be issued during Calendar Year 2024.
The bill included an extended "Findings" section that highlighted some of the Association's accomplishments since its establishment:
"The Congress finds the following:
"(1) On November 11, 1924, the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) was founded by Navy Chief Yeoman George L. Carlin and chartered in 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FRA was born out of the need for an organization to protect the pay and benefits of enlisted Sea Service members and their families.
"(2) The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) is a congressionally chartered, non-profit organization that represents the interests of the Sea Service community. Although the association was originally named for the Navy's Fleet Reserve program, membership in FRA is open to all current and former sailors, marines, and Coast Guard personnel.
"(3) In 1930, FRA-proposed legislation was enacted that authorizes a death gratuity benefit of six months basic pay to the estates of recalled Fleet Reservists who subsequently die on active duty.
"(4) In 1932, FRA was successful in exempting enlisted personnel from Great Depression-era pay cuts that deferred pay for Federal employees by 8 to 20 percent.
"(5) In 1934, FRA regained two-thirds of the 15 percent pay cut authorized in the Economy Act of 1933. The remaining 5 percent was restored in 1935.
"(6) In 1935, FRA was successful in obtaining eligibility for Navy retirees and Fleet Reservists to receive emergency care in veterans' hospitals in areas where military facilities were not available.
"(7) In 1937, FRA helped advance legislation that authorized commissary privileges for military widows.
"(8) In 1946, FRA was successful in establishing equity in disability compensation for disabled peacetime veterans with their wartime counterparts.
"(9) In 1950, FRA first proposed legislation to provide a survivor benefit program as part of the military retirement system.
"(10) In 1972, FRA played a major role in the enactment of the Widow's Equity bill, the precursor of today's Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and FRA sponsored the Navy's first Sailors of the Year competition, a tradition that continues today.
"(11) In 1985, FRA became a founding member of The Military Coalition when laws threatened to significantly cut military retired pay. The FRA is one of 12 military and veterans organizations that banded together to reverse the potential loss of 22.5 percent in cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) over a seven-year period.
"(12) In 1986, FRA played a key role in restoring full cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for military retirees.
"(13) In 1996, FRA became federally chartered as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 (Public Law 104-201).
"(14) In 2002, the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314) authorized combat-related special compensation (CRSC) for disabled uniformed services retirees wounded in combat, which FRA acknowledged as a significant first step toward full concurrent receipt of military retired pay and Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation.
"(15) In 2009, the FRA Education Foundation was launched in conjunction with FRA's 85th anniversary.
"(16) In 2013, FRA successfully defeated efforts to reduce future cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for military retirees by blocking implementation of the chained consumer price index (CPI) in lieu of the current consumer price index (CPI).
"(17) November 11, 2024, will mark the 100th anniversary of the Fleet Reserve Association."Definitely an advocate for the rights of current and retired US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard service members!
The bill included only the general design guidance: "shall be emblematic of the Fleet Reserve Association." It did specify, however, that in addition to being dated "2024", the coins were to included the FRA motto of "Loyalty, Protection, and Service".
As was/is standard, the final designs were to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consulting with the Commission of Fine Arts and, in this case, the National Board of Directors of the Fleet Reserve Association. The Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee was to serve in a design review capacity.
The Issue Price of each coin was to include a surcharge:
- $35 per Gold Half Eagle
- $10 per Silver Dollar
- $5 per Clad Half-Dollar
Collected surcharges were to be paid to the Fleet Reserve Association for costs related to:
"(1) promoting the importance of and caring for those who have served in uniform, ensuring they receive proper health care and disability benefits earned through military service;
"(2) promoting the importance of, and caring for, those who are still serving in the Armed Forces;
"(3) promoting the importance of maintaining the patriotic values, morals, culture, and citizenship of the United States; and
"(4) promoting the importance of maintaining strong families, assistance for at-risk children, and activities that promote their healthy and wholesome development."
A program sell-out would have generated $9.5 million in surcharge funds. Had it been authorized, it seems, at least to me, that the coin program would
not have been likely to sell out, so collected surcharges would have been less.
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, but was not reported. Its one dozen co-sponsors were not able to generate enough interest among their House colleagues to move the bill forward and it subsequently died for lack of action.
Representative Bilirakis tried again during the 118th Congress, but faced a similar lack of support; the bill did not progress past Committee referral.
The new bill included the same "Findings", called for the same coin specifications and continued to name the Fleet Reserve Association and the surcharge beneficiary.
As I stated in my "Possible?" post: "This is one that I can support - an established, long-term US service organization with objectives and a mission that is important to the nation as a whole. I would happily support this organization with the purchase of its commemorative coins."
For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more "What If?" stories, see:
Commems Collection 
Posted 02/20/2026 05:38 am
