April 10, 2025
Ms. De La Cruz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of Selena Quintanilla.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Selena Commemorative Coin Act
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Selena Quintanilla, born on April 16, 1971, was a South Texas music artist who greatly contributed to the rise of Tejano music and culture across the United States.
(2)
She was an extremely talented young artist who started singing at the age of eight. Her parents took joy in her talent and had her start performing with her family. The band they formed was known as Selena y Los Dinos. Selena was just thirteen years old when she was introduced on the Johnny Canales Show.
(3)
Selena first won the Tejano Music Awards’ Female Vocalist of the Year
in 1986 at the age of fifteen. From 1987 to 1996, she won as Female Entertainer of the Year
every year, along with other awards such as Song of the Year
.
(4)
Selena’s musical accomplishments are recognized by the Guinness World Record where she holds the most wins of Female Entertainer of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards.
(5)
Selena’s album Selena Live! won a Grammy Award in 1994, making her the first Tejano artist to win a Grammy. Also in 1994, Texas Monthly named her one of the twenty most influential Texans.
(6)
Selena’s fourth album, Amor Prohibido, became the first Tejano record to peak at number one on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. As of October 2017, it is the fourth best-selling Latin album of all time in the United States with over 1.2 million copies sold.
(7)
Selena’s final album, Dreaming of You, was released after her death in 1995 and was the first Tejano album to debut atop the United States Billboard 200.
(8)
Aside from her musical contributions, Selena also was passionate about public service. She participated with the Texas Prevention Partnership, sponsored by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Tour to Schools. She was involved with the D.A.R.E. program and worked with the Coastal Bend Aids Foundation. Selena also taped a public service announcement for the Houston Area Women’s Center, a shelter for battered women, in 1993.
(9)
After her untimely death at the age of 23, she was honored in many ways. Then Texas Governor George W. Bush proclaimed April 16, 1995, Selena Day
.
(10)
Selena, a movie about Selena’s life, was released in 1997 and starred Jennifer Lopez in the leading role.
(11)
The City of Corpus Christi unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Selena, named Mirador de la Flor
, or Overlook of the Flower, in 1997 to honor Selena Quintanilla-Perez and her contributions to music and Corpus Christi.
(12)
In 2011, the United States Postal Service honored Selena as a Latin Legend
with the issuance of a memorial postage stamp.
(13)
Selena did not realize all of her dreams, but she remains a beacon for young Tejanas and Latinas in Texas and the United States to follow their dreams.
Sec. 3. Coin specifications
(a) Denominations
In recognition and celebration of Selena Quintanilla, the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary
) shall mint and issue the following coins:
(1) $5 gold coins
Not more than 50,000 $5 coins, which shall—
(A)
weigh 8.359 grams;
(B)
have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
(C)
contain not less than 90 percent gold.
(2) $1 silver coins
Not more than 400,000 $1 coins, which shall—
(A)
weigh 26.73 grams;
(B)
have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(C)
contain not less than 90 percent silver.
(3) Half-dollar clad coins
Not more than 750,000 half-dollar coins which shall—
(A)
weigh 11.34 grams;
(B)
have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and
(C)
be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Legal tender
The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.
(c) Numismatic items
For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
Sec. 4. Designs of coins
(a) Design requirements
(1) In general
The designs for the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of Selena Quintanilla and her life and accomplishments. At least one obverse design shall bear the image of Selena Quintanilla.
(2) Designation and inscriptions
On each coin minted under this Act, there shall be—
(A)
a designation of the denomination of the coin;
(B)
an inscription of the year 2029
; and
(C)
inscriptions of the words Liberty
, In God We Trust
, United States of America
, and E Pluribus Unum
.
(b) Selection
The designs for the coins minted under this Act shall be—
(1)
selected by the Secretary, after consultation with the Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History; and
(2)
reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Sec. 5. Issuance of coins
(a) Quality of coins
Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Period for issuance
The Secretary may issue coins minted under this Act only during the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2029.
Sec. 6. Sale of coins
(a) Sale price
The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price based upon the sum of—
(1)
the face value of the coins;
(2)
the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to such coins; and
(3)
the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping).
(b) Bulk sales
The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid orders
(1) In general
The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of the coins.
(2) Discount
Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
Sec. 7. Surcharges
(a) In general
All sales of coins minted under this Act shall include a surcharge as follows:
(1)
A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin.
(2)
A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
(3)
A surcharge of $5 per coin for the half-dollar coin.
(b) Distribution
Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be paid to the Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History for application to general expenses associated with the fulfillment of the mission of the Friends the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, including costs associated with—
(1)
museum operations; and
(2)
a Selena exhibit.
(c) Audits
The Friends of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under subsection (b).
(d) Limitation
Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code. The Secretary may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.
Sec. 8. Financial assurances
The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that—
(1)
minting and issuing coins under this Act will not result in any net cost to the Federal Government; and
(2)
no funds, including applicable surcharges, are disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7(b) until to the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping is recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.