The story of the 2019 American Legion Centennial coin program is one that began with companion bills but, ultimately, would see dramatic divergence. (Calling Robert Frost!)
In May 2017, Timothy J. Walz (D-MN), in the House of Representatives ("House"), and Todd Young (R-IN) in the Senate, introduced bills that called for a three-coin commemorative program "in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion." The program was to include a Gold Half Eagle (up to 50,000), Silver Dollar (up to 400,000) and Copper-Nickel ("CuNi") Clad Half Dollar (up to 750,000).
The House bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services; the Senate bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Each of the bills had strong support, with the House bill securing 385 (of 435 voting members) co-sponsors and the Senate bill collecting 76.(of 100 members).
The bills included an extensive "Findings" section that highlighted historical and more recent events of significance as they related to the American Legion:
"The Congress finds that--
"(1) on March 15, 1919, The American Legion was founded in Paris, France, by members of the American Expeditionary Force occupying Europe after World War I and concerned about the welfare of their comrades and communities upon their return to the United States;
"(2) on September 16, 1919, Congress chartered The American Legion, which quickly grew to become the largest veterans service organization in the United States;
"(3) The American Legion conferences in Washington, DC, in 1923 and 1924 crafted the first United States Flag Code, which was adopted in schools, States, cities and counties prior to being enacted in 1942, establishing the proper use, display, and respect for the colors of the United States;
"(4) during World War II, The American Legion developed and presented to Congress its case for vastly improved support for medically discharged, disabled veterans, which ultimately became the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 284; chapter 268), better known as the G.I. Bill of Rights, and was drafted by former American Legion National Commander Harry W. Colmery in Washington's Mayflower Hotel;
"(5) through the leadership and advocacy of The American Legion, the G.I. Bill was enacted in June 1944, which led to monumental changes in United States society, including the democratization of higher education, home ownership for average people in the United States, better VA hospitals, business and farm loans for veterans, and the ability to appeal conditions of military discharge;
"(6) defying those who argued the G.I. Bill would break the Treasury, according to various researchers, the G.I. Bill provided a tremendous return on investment of $7 to the United States economy for every $1 spent on the program, triggering a half-century of prosperity in the United States;
"(7) after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, The American Legion established the National Emergency Fund to provide immediate cash relief for veterans who have been affected by natural disasters;
"(8) American Legion National Emergency Fund grants after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, for instance, exceeded $1,700,000;
"(9) The American Legion fought to see the Veterans Administration elevated to Cabinet-level status as the Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring support for veterans would be set at the highest level of the Federal Government, as a priority issue for the President;
"(10) after a decades-long struggle to improve the adjudication process for veterans disputing claims decisions, The American Legion helped shape and introduce the Veterans Reassurance Act to create a venue for judicial review of veterans' appeals;
"(11) building on these efforts, legislation was passed in 1988 to create the United States Court of Veterans Appeals, today known as the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims;
"(12) The American Legion created the American Legacy Scholarship Fund for children of military members killed on active duty on or after September 11, 2001;
"(13) in 2016, The American Legion's National Executive Committee amended the original scholarship criteria to include children of veterans with 50 percent or greater VA disability ratings;
"(14) President George W. Bush signed into law the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (title V of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008; 122 Stat. 2357), a next-generation G.I. Bill strongly supported by The American Legion and the most comprehensive educational benefits package since the original G.I. Bill of Rights was enacted in 1944;
"(15) in August 2018, The American Legion will begin its centennial recognition at the 100th National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the site of the first American Legion National Convention; and
"(16) in March 2019, the organization will celebrate its 100th birthday in Paris, France, and September 16, 2019, will mark the 100th anniversary of The American Legion's Federal charter."The bills did not define specific design requirements, stating instead that designs were to "be emblematic of The American Legion" and bear the date "2019".
The final designs for the coins were to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts ("CFA") and the Adjutant of The American Legion. The Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee ("CCCAC") was to serve in a review capacity.
The Issue Price of each coin was to carry the mandated surcharge:
- $35 per Gold Half Eagle
- $10 per Silver Dollar
- $5 per Clad Half Dollar
Collected surcharges were to be paid to the American Legion and be used for:
"(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."Neither bill was subject to full Committee review; each was discharged from considering its referred bill and was taken up directly by its respective chamber (i.e., House or Senate).
The Senate moved first, passing its bill (with a minor technical correction/amendment regarding the bill's audit language) in August 2017. The bill was then sent to the House, where it was held at the Clerk's desk for an extended period (11+ months!); when revived in the House, it would take a major turn!
In the interim, Representative Garland H. Barr (R-KY) motioned to have the House version of the coin bill considered without a Committee Report.
The bill was considered and quickly passed by the House (with the same "Audit" amendment as the Senate bill), being approved in September 2017. The bill was approved without amendment or objection in the Senate within days and sent on to the President for final approval. US President Donald J. Trump signed the coin bill into law on October 6, 2017 - the American Legion had its "Centennial" coins!
Turning attention back to the Senate bill waiting in the House for a moment...
With the American Legion coin program already secured (via the House bill), an exasperated Representative - Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) - resuscitated the Senate-approved coin bill via the introduction of an amendment - he introduced his amendment in July 2018. (It was nearly a year after the House had approved its American Legion coin bill.) The amendment was NOT a tweak to the Senate coin bill, it was an amendment via substitution with the amendment seeking to extend Federal financial support for the National Flood Insurance Program - no mention of commemorative coins was to be found!
Hensarling's exasperation was directed at the Senate and is clearly evident in his opening comments regarding his proposed amendment: "I come to the floor today to do something I do not often do, and that is: I have asked my leadership to put a bill on the floor that I do not support." Hensarling wanted a bill that would reform the Flood Insurance Program, not simply extend it as is, and was frustrated by the Senate's lack of action after the House's efforts to create widespread reforms and incentives for the Program.
But I'm not here to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the circa 2018 Federal Flood Insurance Program...I will close by saying that the House and Senate passed the Insurance Program amendment and left behind the commemorative coin program of the original Senate bill.
While the original Senate bill got off the line first, the House bill's widespread support and steady legislative progress saw it make it to the finish line first!
For details about the coins, see:
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2019 American Legion Centennial - Part II / The CoinsFor other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more about modern US commemorative coins, see:
Commems Collection
Posted 01/14/2026 06:20 am
