Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act

Summary — H.R. 6751: Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act

Purpose and intent

H.R. 6751, the "Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act," seeks to commemorate the life and legacy of Roberto Clemente (Major League Baseball player and humanitarian) by authorizing the minting and issuance of a U.S. commemorative coin or coins in his honor. The bill recognizes Clemente’s contributions to sports and humanitarian work and provides a statutory vehicle for the U.S. Mint to produce a commemorative issue.

Key provisions (based on bill title and customary structure)

The publicly available bill text was not included in the materials provided. Typical elements of commemorative coin legislation, and those the bill is expected to contain, include:
- Authorization for the Secretary of the Treasury (acting through the U.S. Mint) to mint and issue one or more designs of commemorative coins honoring Roberto Clemente.
- Specifications for denomination(s), metal composition (e.g., silver, gold, clad), maximum mintage, finish types, and design themes (obverse/reverse) determined by the Secretary in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
- A defined issuance period (a limited window in which coins may be struck and sold).
- A surcharge on each coin sold, with proceeds designated for one or more named beneficiary organizations or charitable purposes related to Clemente’s legacy (e.g., baseball, youth programs, humanitarian causes). The bill would typically identify beneficiaries and require them to cover the production costs before receiving surcharge proceeds.
- Requirements that the U.S. Mint cover production, distribution, and marketing costs through sales of the coins (not general taxpayer funds).

Because the bill text is not provided here, consult the Congressional Record or the official bill text for precise language on denominations, mintage limits, designated beneficiaries, surcharge amounts, and statutory deadlines.

Legislative history and procedural status

• Introduced in the House: December 13, 2023 (primary sponsor: Rep. Adriano Espaillat).
• Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services: December 13, 2023.
• Considered under suspension of the rules; debated (40 minutes) and passed by the House by voice vote on December 4, 2024.
• Motion to reconsider laid on the table: December 4, 2024.
• Received in the Senate and read twice; referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: December 5, 2024.

Sponsors and support

The bill has broad bipartisan cosponsorship, including more than 200 Members from both parties (representatives across many states). Primary sponsor: Rep. Adriano Espaillat. The large number and bipartisan mix of cosponsors indicate widespread congressional backing.

Who would be affected

• U.S. Mint operations: production and sale of the commemorative coin(s).
• Named beneficiary organizations (if the bill specifies surcharges): potential recipients of surcharge proceeds.
• Collectors and the general public: opportunity to purchase official commemorative coin(s) honoring Roberto Clemente.
• Federal budget: typically minimal direct impact, since commemorative coin programs are generally self-funded through coin sales; any specific fiscal effects depend on language in the bill.

Next steps and likely timeline

The bill is pending in the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Committee consideration, potential amendment, and a full Senate floor vote would be required for enactment. If enacted, the Secretary of the Treasury/U.S. Mint would implement the coin program consistent with statutory parameters and timelines in the enacted law.

For exact coin specifications, beneficiary designations, surcharge amounts, and implementation details, refer to the official bill text and any committee reports.