Marshals coin legislation still alive in Congress

A bill that could raise up to $5 million to fund the U.S. Marshals Museum is expected to have 56 U.S. Senate co-sponsors when Congress reconvenes, according to an update from Museum Director Jim Dunn.

During June 2009, U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, filed HR 2799 to issue a U.S. Marshals Service Commemorative coin. Boozman said at the time the coin could raise $5 million for the U.S. Marshals museum planned for downtown Fort Smith. In October, U.S. Sens. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Mark Pryor, D-Ark., introduced legislation to mint coins in commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the establishment of the nation’s first law enforcement agency, the United States Marshals Service.

In January 2007, the U.S. Marshals Service selected Fort Smith as the site for the national museum. The cost to build the 50,000-square-foot museum — including exhibit work — is estimated as high as $50 million.

The commemorative coin proposed by Lincoln and Pryor would be minted in 2014 to coincide with the 225th anniversary of the establishment of the Marshals Service. It would be available in two denominations, a $5 gold coin and a $1 silver coin, and would be the first commemorative coin to honor the United States Marshals Service.

“Sales of the coins could produce up to $5 million dollars for the U.S. Marshals Museum and additional money for other charities. Funding for the U.S. Marshals Museum and the other charities would come from coin sales and not tax revenue,” Dunn noted in his update to museum board members and the media.

According to Dunn, the U.S. Senate bill (S. 3572) has 54 co-sponsors, with two Senators ready to sign on when Congress reconvenes after the recess. However, 67 co-sponsors are needed to engage action on the bill.

“Our senatorial staffs will continue to work extremely hard to get the necessary co-sponsors during the ‘lame duck’ session of Congress, which has a lot of business left to conduct,” Dunn explained. “If passed by the Senate, the bill would be sent to the House for consideration. Congressman Boozman and his staff are committed to making every effort to secure final passage in the House.”
 
Dunn is not overly optimistic about this first stab at a coin.

“We still have a long way to go. Approval of commemorative coins rarely occur the first time they are introduced. Still, this progress means a great deal to the future of the U.S. Marshals Commemorative Coin and the U.S. Marshals Museum,” he noted.

The coin effort will have to be explained to a lot of new faces if success is not found in the lame duck session. Most political pundits expect the Republicans to gain control in the U.S. House, which now has 254 Democrats and 177 Republicans. Also, Republicans are expected to gain seats in a U.S. Senate that now has 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans and two independents.

Dunn acknowledged in a brief e-mail interview with The City Wire that the effort “will have new ground to cover” in January 2011. He is confident the progress made by Boozman, Lincoln and Pryor will help with that effort.

“We do indeed have plans for next year if the bill doesn’t secure final passage this year. We need to wait and see how the dynamics may change. Still, (we have) a tremendous amount of progress and momentum,” Dunn said.