To specify the size of the precious-metal blanks that will be used in the production of the National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coins.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1071) to specify the size of the precious-metal blanks that will be used in the production of the National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coins.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 1071.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1071, introduced by our colleague from New York (Mr. Hanna), along with Mr. Doyle and Mr. Gibson, two other Representatives from the State of New York.

This is a two-line amendment of the most technical sort. It amends the National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act, sponsored by Mr. Hanna and Mr. Doyle, and passed last year by this Congress. The legislation calls for the Mint to strike and issue next year's coins in commemoration of the Hall of Fame's 75th anniversary.

The coin will be domed, Mr. Speaker, the first of that kind ever done by the Mint. As they did the technical work of preparing to produce the coin, the Mint discovered that using a standard coin blank and stamping the center part into a dome drew the edges of the coin inward a few thousandths of an inch; not a big deal, but enough to be out of spec with the finished size of the coin designated in the legislation.

To avoid making a coin not in compliance with the law, or having to purchase expensive custom coin blanks, this bill simply eliminates the requirement for the finished size and specification that the coins be struck on standard commemorative coin blanks. The result will be a less expensive coin and less work for the Mint.

This is truly a technical amendment, Mr. Speaker. I urge its quick passage.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hanna), who is the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gibson).

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my New York colleagues for

bringing this bill. Obviously, those of us who visited Cooperstown, it's a wonderful place, and I can really think of no better way to start the celebration of the 75th anniversary than to go view the film, ``42,'' about Jackie Robinson.

Baseball has a rich history. It has a history, as with other sports, of bringing people together, putting aside their personal, emotional, or ideological differences. It is a wonderful movie and a lesson for all of us.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1071. The bill corrects the specification of the precious metal blanks to be used by the U.S. Mint in making the National Baseball Hall of Fame coins which Congress authorized last term. This correction will result in a cost savings, permitting the U.S. Mint to implement the design specifications using standard-sized blanks and produce the coins by January 2014, the required deadline.

Last Congress, I voted in favor of minting the National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coin. Proceeds from the coin will go to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, to help fulfill its mission of preserving history, honoring excellence, and connecting generations through the rich history of our national pastime.

One of the most popular exhibits at the Hall of Fame is that of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in 1947, bringing his amazing skills from the Negro League to win Rookie of the Year his first year. He led the Brooklyn Dodgers to 6 pennants in 10 seasons, including their own World Series in 1955. He was the 1949 National League Most Valuable Player. Jackie Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962, after his phenomenal career. Most importantly, he showed tremendous grace and poise as he integrated the major leagues and served as an inspiration to so many of us in generations to come. The number he wore--42--as a Brooklyn Dodger has been retired in his honor, and no other ball player can wear that number again.

Baseball is also a wonderful pastime in my own district of Birmingham, Alabama, where we have a minor league team, the Birmingham Barons, and enjoy the baseball.

I ask for passage of H.R. 1071 and urge my colleagues to approve this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the chairman emeritus for yielding and for his strong support of the National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coin bill.

Mr. Speaker, the United States Mint is working hard to produce spectacular coins next year honoring the National Baseball Hall of Fame's 75th anniversary.

As called for in the legislation I authored in last year's Congress, the coin will be unique in the history of the Mint. It will be domed, with the back of the coin depicting stitches that appear on a major league baseball.

In doing the production work, the Mint discovered that the work to make the coin domed would make the finished coin slightly smaller than the standard finished commemorative coin. I am pleased the Mint has brought this to our attention and asked that we do a technical amendment to allow them to use standard coin blanks, instead of having to secure expensive custom ones.

Since all production costs of commemorative coins are passed on to the consumer, this will keep the cost of these coins down for baseball fans around the world who want to commemorate 75 years of collecting, displaying, and honoring our national pastime.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill that actually saves money and effort, and I urge its immediate passage.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. And it's a great privilege to rise today in support of this bill.

I'm proud to represent Cooperstown in upstate New York, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball, America's pastime, is something that unites us and I think also something that engenders hope throughout our country, the feeling that we all have in April, the possibility that our team could go all the way and win the World Series, something, indeed, that unites us.

A coin is a fitting way to honor the Hall of Fame and also help our efforts for tourism in central New York. And this bill and this coin are able to do all that at no cost to the taxpayer.

I might also say that this competition where we now have children from across the country that are involved in this competition to provide the best design is, I think, going to kindle even more support for baseball. And so I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

I thank Mr. Hanna for his leadership and the chairman for the opportunity to speak this morning in support of it.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 1071, which was received from the House and is at the desk.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed; that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.