Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2139) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the establishment of Lions Clubs International, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 2139, the Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act.

Mr. Speaker, this bill, which authorizes the minting and issuing of commemorative coins in 2017, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the world's largest service club organization, Lions Clubs International. Lions Clubs International empowers volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace, and promote international understanding through service in Lions Clubs.

The Lions Club was established, Mr. Speaker, in 1917 by Chicago business leader Melvin Jones after he posed this simple question to his local business club: ``What if people put their talents to work improving their communities?'' Now headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, the organization has grown over the years from that simple question, Mr. Speaker, to 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members globally. In that time, the Lions Club has organized local youth programs, taken up the banner to try to eradicate blindness, and participated in the drafting of the United Nations charter.

The Lions Club has worked in countless ways to improve the lives of people all over the world, Mr. Speaker. Here are just a few of the highlights from this storied and generous organization. In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions Club at their international convention in Cedar Point, Ohio. She challenged them to become the ``knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.'' The Lions embraced this challenge and have since helped in the effort to save the sight of more than 15 million children through eye screenings, glasses, and other treatments. They have established eye care centers that have reached more than 120 million children and prevented serious vision loss for more than 30 million worldwide.

In 1945, the Lions Club became the first nongovernmental organization invited to assist in the drafting of the United Nations charter. Since then, the Lions Club has worked closely with the United Nations, providing aid and manpower for the United Nations Children's Fund; the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; and the World Health Organization.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation does not merely recognize the accomplishments of Lions all over the world. The people who voluntarily buy Lions Club coins each will pay a surcharge on top of the cost of producing and marketing the coin. The coins will be sold at a price which will recover all taxpayer costs, and the surcharges go to the Lions Club to further its work.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of a truly selfless organization and all of its members, who give so much of themselves each and every day. I am proud to be one of the 292 cosponsors of this bill and of the 69 senators who have sponsored the companion bill introduced by my good friend, Senator Moran of Kansas. I look forward to its swift passage in this House and over in the Senate, and I want to make sure that it gets to the President's desk for signature.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to another Member from the State of Illinois, the chief deputy whip, (Mr. Roskam).

I just want to wrap up by saying it is indeed an honor to be able to stand up here in a bipartisan way to pay tribute to literally the millions of members of the Lions Club that are doing such great work all across the globe.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

U.S. House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, August 1, 2012.

Hon. Spencer Bachus,

Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Bachus, I am writing concerning H.R. 2139,

the ``Lions Clubs International Century of Service

Commemorative Coin Act,'' which is scheduled for floor action

the week of July 30, 2012.

As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains

jurisdiction over matters that concern raising revenue. H.R.

2139 contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for

the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the

bill, and this falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee

on Ways and Means.

However, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding

commemorative coin bills and in order to expedite this bill

for floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action.

This is being done with the understanding that it does not in

any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the

appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives

on this or similar legislation in the future.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

this understanding with respect to H.R. 2139, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record during floor

consideration.

Sincerely,

Dave Camp,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2139, the Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act. I thank my colleague, Mr. Roskam from Illinois, for introducing this bill which would direct the Secretary of Treasury to mint and issue $1 coins in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of the Lions Clubs International.

Founded in 1917 by Chicago businessman Melvin Jones, the Lions Club has expanded to over 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members worldwide. What began as a national association extended beyond U.S. borders within 3 years of founding. Now, nearly a century later, the Lions continue to carry out their motto ``We Serve'' in 207 countries, touching every corner of the globe.

In the last century, Lions Clubs International has helped to solve problems and serve humanitarian needs on the ground. Their services reach the blind, youth, and the elderly and also address health, the environment and disaster relief.

I am especially grateful to the Lions for their dedicated assistance to the people of my district in American Samoa. Following the deadly 2009 tsunami that devastated villages in American Samoa and Samoa, our local Lions Clubs were among those that came to the aid of our people. The Lions Club of Pago Pago continued to provide relief to many residents who lost their eyeglasses during the tsunami. Volunteers offered residents eye screening services that included complete eye examinations to evaluate visual health and detect eye diseases, prescriptions, and referral services. The Apia Lions in Samoa also provided assistance through disaster relief shelters and distributed donations such as clothing, food, and medicine from international Lions Clubs members.

I am proud to say that the Lions Club of Pago Pago has provided consistent services to our people of American Samoa and is a priceless asset to our community. I commend the Lions Clubs International and I stand in full support of this bill which celebrates and honors a century of international leadership in humanitarian service.

Mr. Speaker, on the Legislative Day of September 10, 2012, upon request of a leave of absence, a series of votes were held. Had I been present for these rollcall votes, I would have casted the following votes: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 6122, To revise the authority of the Librarian of Congress to accept gifts and bequests on behalf of the Library, and for other purposes (Roll No. 557)--I vote ``Yes''; On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 2139, Lions Clubs International Century of Service Commemorative Coin Act (Roll No. 558)--I vote ``Yes''; On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 6186, To require a study of voluntary community-based flood insurance options and how such options could be incorporated into the national flood insurance program (Roll No. 559)-- I vote ``Yes.''

On the Legislative Day of September 11, 2012, upon request of a leave of absence, a series of votes were held. Had I been present for these rollcall votes, I would have casted the following votes: On Ordering the Previous Question for H. Res. 773, Providing for consideration of H.R. 5544, to authorize and expedite a land exchange involving National Forest System land in the State of Minnesota for the public school system, and for consideration of H.R. 5949, to extend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 for 5 years (Roll No. 560)--I vote ``No''; On Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 773, Providing for consideration of H.R. 5544, to authorize and expedite a land exchange involving National Forest System land in the State of Minnesota for the public school system, and for consideration of H.R. 5949, to extend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 for 5 years (Roll No. 561)--I vote ``No''; and On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 4264, FHA Emergency Fiscal Solvency Act (Roll No. 562)--I vote ``Yes.''

Mr. Speaker, during the course of the week, I was absent for legislative business; had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

Rollcall 557--H.R. 6122--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 558--H.R. 2139--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 559--H.R. 6186--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 560--H. Res. 773--On Ordering the Previous Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 561--H. Res. 773--On Agreeing to the Resolution--``yes.''

Rollcall 562--H.R. 4264--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 563--H.R. 5544--On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 564--H.R. 5544--On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 565--H.R. 5544--On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 566--H.R. 5544--On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 567--H.R. 5544--On Motion to Recommit with Instructions-- ``no.''

Rollcall 568--H.R. 5544--On Passage--``yes.''

Rollcall 569--H.R. 5949--On Passage--``yes.''

Rollcall 570--H.R. 3857--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 571--H.R. 5865--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``no.''

Rollcall 572--H. Res. 778--On Ordering the Previous Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 573--H. Res. 778--On Agreeing to the Resolution--``yes.''

Rollcall 574--H. Res. 779--On Agreeing to the Resolution--``yes.''

Rollcall 575--H.R. 1775--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 580--S. 3245--On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 581--H.R. 6213--On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 582--H.R. 6213--On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 583--H.R. 6213--On Motion to Recommit with Instructions-- ``no.''

Rollcall 584--H.R. 6213--On Passage--``yes.''

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Today is a day when we can celebrate accomplishment in the private sector and in the volunteer sector, and to celebrate a rich history and a century of accomplishment--accomplishment that is borne of service to one another.

The gentleman from Illinois a minute ago gave a brief history of the Lions Club International. I am honored to serve as the representative for the Lions Club International headquarters. They're an organization that not only, as was previously mentioned, has an impact here in the United States but has had an impact around the world. And I would argue that if you have an impact on vision for children, if you have an impact on vision for others, you're not just having an impact on that family but you're having a generational impact.

And so here we are today, celebrating the Lions Club International as they're on the cusp of a new century. So there's a lot to celebrate. There's a lot to be proud of here. And I want to thank also Chairman Bachus and Ranking Member Frank and the staff of the Financial Services Committee and the Lions around the world who reached out and built a constituency for this legislation today. I am a strong supporter, and I am pleased to be a part of this bipartisan effort.

I urge its passage.