Sponsors (11)
The bill creates a largely self‑funded commemorative coin program to honor fallen firefighters and raise money for their foundation while offering collectors limited‑run, government‑issued coins—at the tradeoff of higher out‑of‑pocket costs for buyers, potential financial and administrative risks to the Mint/taxpayers if sales underperform, and timing/access limits that can delay or restrict fundraising and public access.
Buyers of the coins will fund the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation via dedicated surcharges, providing steady, targeted donations to support firefighting families and programs.
The program is structured so the Treasury must recover all production costs before surcharge disbursements, meaning the commemorative program is intended to be self‑sustaining and not add net cost to taxpayers.
Collectors and investors gain access to limited‑run, government‑issued numismatic coins (fixed mintages and a one‑year issuance window), creating scarcity that can enhance collectible value and appeal.
Buyers (collectors/investors) may pay prices well above intrinsic metal value and could lose money if secondary‑market demand is weak.
Each coin includes a fixed surcharge ($35, $10, $5), meaning purchasers will pay materially more out‑of‑pocket per coin than face value or metal content alone.
If sales are lower than expected or administrative costs rise, the Mint and ultimately taxpayers could bear financial risk; additionally, design/review and accounting requirements increase program complexity and cost.
Based on analysis of 14 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce three commemorative coins in 2029, imposes per-coin surcharges to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and requires cost recovery before payments.
Introduced March 11, 2026 by Susan Margaret Collins · Last progress March 11, 2026
Authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce three commemorative coins (gold $5, silver $1, and half-dollar clad) with set maximum mintages and designs honoring the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Sales include per-coin surcharges that must be paid to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation after the Treasury recovers minting and issuance costs; coin issuance is limited to calendar year 2029 and the Mint must ensure no net cost to the government.