Bill · H.R. 1546· House(119-HR-1546)
Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
- Introduced
- 2/24/2025
- Last activity
- 2/24/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Sponsored by
- Claudia Tenney
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 4
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Erie Canal Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint specific coins to honor the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal. The bill authorizes the creation of $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins. These coins are intended to be issued during the year 2026. The designs must represent the impact of the Erie Canal on the United States and New York State. Revenue generated from surcharges on these coins will be directed to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc. Finally, the Act mandates that the coin program results in no net cost to the United States Government.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Support for Local Heritage and Development: All surcharges collected from the sale of the coins will be paid to the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc. This money is intended to support historic preservation, conservation, recreation, tourism, and community development of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, as well as educational programs regarding the canal's history (Section 7).
-
Commemorative Value: The bill provides for the creation of numismatic items that recognize the historical significance of the Erie Canal, which served as a major public works project and helped initiate the industrial revolution (Section 2 and Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Requirement for Coin Buyers: Individuals purchasing these coins must pay a price that includes the face value plus a specific surcharge ($35 for gold, $10 for silver, and $5 for half-dollars) plus the various costs associated with designing and issuing the coins (Section 6).
- 2/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/8/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 4/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Andrew GarbarinoRepublican · New York
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Nicole MalliotakisRepublican · New York
Joseph MorelleDemocrat · New York
Kristen McDonald RivetDemocrat · Michigan
Jimmy PanettaDemocrat · California
Elise StefanikRepublican · New York
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York