Public Law 116–65: To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition of Christa McAuliffe.

Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019

Christa McAuliffe was a social studies teacher at Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire.

In 1985, Christa McAuliffe was selected to be the first participant in the Teacher in Space program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

On January 28, 1986, Christa McAuliffe and 6 other astronauts were tragically killed during the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

In 1989, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (in this Act referred to as “FIRST”) was founded to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.

The mission of FIRST “is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership”.

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of FIRST.

Each year, more than 1,000,000 children from the United States and more than 86 countries participate in a FIRST program.

Studies have shown that alumni of FIRST programs are more likely to become scientists and engineers and to volunteer in their communities.

FIRST is dedicated to carrying on the mission of Christa McAuliffe of inspiring students and creating a new generation of dreamers and in­no­va­tors.

2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy.133 STAT. 1125

In commemoration of Christa McAuliffe, the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter referred to in this Act as the “Secretary”) shall mint and issue not more than 350,000 $1 coins, each of which shall—

The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.

For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

(1)

In general.—

(2)

Designation and inscriptions.—

The design for the coins minted under this Act shall be—

Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.

Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this Act.

The Secretary may issue coins under this Act only during the period beginning on January 1, 2021, and ending on December 31, 2021.

The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of—

(3)

The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.

All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin.

Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, and section 8(2), all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the FIRST robotics program for the purpose of engaging and inspiring young people, through mentor-based programs, to become leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The FIRST robotics program shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with respect to the amounts received under subsection (b).

minting and issuing coins under this Act result in no net cost to the Federal Government; and

no funds, including applicable surcharges, are disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7(b) until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping, is recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.