Trends in Commemorative Legislation, 93rd Through 115th Congresses

Trends in Commemorative Legislation, 93rd Through 115th Congresses

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August 31, 2020
Trends in Commemorative Legislation, 93rd Through 115th
Congresses
Since the Continental Congress, commemorative legislation
Table 1. Commemorative Legislation, 93rd-115th
has been used to express public gratitude for distinguished
Congresses
contributions to American history and society; extol the
virtues of individuals, groups, and causes; and perpetuate
Congress
Total
Enacted/Agreed to
the remembrance of significant events. Today,
93
633
44
commemorative legislation continues to serve as a formal
mechanism to record recognition for posterity and a way for
94
759
49
Members of Congress to connect with constituent groups.
95
852
57
Congress generally uses one of six types of legislation to
96
540
97
commemorate individuals, groups, and events. As shown in
97
650
148
Figure 1, these types are postage stamps; commemorative
coins; congressional Gold Medals; commemorative
98
808
224
observances, including federal holidays; memorials; and
building naming, including post offices.
99
938
296
100
928
281
Figure 1. Types of Commemorative Legislation
101
799
243
102
711
203
103
616
154
104
232
86
105
335
95
106
482
197
107
657
215
108
843
337
109
966
455
110
1,302
684
111
1,331
689
112
768
319
113
798
313
114
893
341

Source: U.S. Mint, “Doolittle Tokyo Raiders,” at
115
1,178
426
https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/medals/doolittle-
tokyo-raiders; and U.S. Mint, “American Veterans Disabled for Life
Total
18,019
5,953
Silver Dol ar,” at https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/
Source: Bush School of Government & Public Service and CRS data
commemorative-coins/american-veterans-disabled-for-life.
analysis of Congress.gov data on commemorative legislation.

Introduction and Consideration
As shown in Table 1, the 111th Congress had the most
Each Congress, hundreds of commemorative measures are
commemorative measures introduced (1,331), followed by
introduced in the House and Senate. Table 1 shows the
the 110th Congress (1,302). Conversely, the 104th Congress
number of commemorative measures introduced and,
had the fewest (232), followed by the 105th Congress (335).
depending on the form of legislation, either enacted or
For measures agreed to (simple and concurrent resolutions)
agreed to in each Congress from the 93rd Congress (1973-
or enacted (bills and joint resolutions), the 111th Congress
1974) through the 115th Congress (2017-2018).
(689) and the 110th Congress (684) had the most measures,
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Trends in Commemorative Legislation, 93rd Through 115th Congresses
while the 93rd Congress (44) and the 94th Congress (49) had
sold at a premium to raise money for a designated cause
the fewest.
(e.g., the Save the Vanishing Species Semipostal; P.L. 111-
241).
Volume of Commemorative Legislation
With more than 18,000 commemorative measures
Commemorative Coins
introduced since the 93rd Congress, some categories of
Commemorative coins are produced by the U.S. Mint
commemorative legislation are more frequently introduced
pursuant to an act of Congress. These coins celebrate and
than others. Figure 2 shows the breakdown in the total
honor American people, events, and institutions. Since
number of measures introduced for each type of
1996, only two commemorative coins can be minted per
commemorative legislation between the 93rd and 115th
year, although there is no statutory limit on the number that
Congresses.
can be authorized in a particular Congress. Since the 93rd
Congress, 458 commemorative coin bills have been
Figure 2. Commemorative Legislation Introduced by
introduced, and 36 (8%) have been enacted.
Type, 93rd-115th Congresses
Congressional Gold Medals
Congressional Gold Medals are generally considered to be
the most distinguished award that Congress bestows. As a
result, numerous bills are introduced each Congress to
honor individuals and groups in this way. Since the 93rd
Congress, 609 Congressional Gold Medal bills have been
introduced, with 48 (8%) enacted into law honoring
individuals (e.g., Arnold Palmer) and groups (e.g., World
War II members of the Civil Air Patrol).
Memorials and Commemorative Works
On many occasions, Congress has authorized the creation
of monuments and memorials to commemorate historic
figures, events, and movements. These include memorials
both inside and outside the District of Columbia. Since the
93rd Congress, 932 memorial establishment or recognition
bills have been introduced, with 43 enacted (5%).
Commemorative Observances
Recognizing a time period is a common use of
commemorative legislation. These can include permanent
Source: Bush School of Government & Public Service and CRS data
recognitions, such as a federal holiday (e.g., Labor Day) or
analysis of Congress.gov data on commemorative legislation.
a patriotic or national observance (e.g., Flag Day), or a
temporary recognition of a day, week, or month. Since the
Naming Buildings
93rd Congress, 13,078 measures have been introduced to
In each Congress, many bills are introduced to name a post
recognize a time period, with 2,774 (21%) enacted or
office or other federal building in honor or in memory of
agreed to.
locally esteemed individuals, deceased elected officials,
fallen military personnel, and celebrities. An act of
For more information on commemorative options for
Congress is required to name a post office or other federal
Congress, see CRS Report R43539, Commemorations in
building after an individual. In total, more than 2,300
Congress: Options for Honoring Individuals, Groups, and
building naming bills have been introduced since the 93rd
Events. For more information on specific commemorations,
Congress. Of those, 1,346 were introduced to name post
see CRS Report RS20221, Commemorative Postage
offices, 614 to name federal buildings, 283 to name
Stamps: History, Selection Criteria, and Revenue Potential;
courthouses, and 226 to name Veterans Affairs facilities.
CRS In Focus IF10262, Commemorative Coins: An
Overview; CRS Report R45101, Congressional Gold
Postage Stamps
Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for
Each year, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issues
Congress; CRS Report R41658, Commemorative Works in
commemorative stamps to celebrate persons, anniversaries,
the District of Columbia: Background and Practice; CRS
and historical and cultural phenomena. For example, USPS
Report R45741, Memorials and Commemorative Works
has issued stamps for Lena Horne, President John F.
Outside Washington, DC: Background, Federal Role, and
Kennedy, the Chinese Lunar New Year, and Star Trek. The
Options for Congress; and CRS Report R44431,
USPS issues these stamps at its own statutory discretion
Commemorative Days, Weeks, and Months: Background
and operates the program with the intent of it being a profit-
and Current Practice.
making enterprise. Legislation to direct USPS to issue a
stamp to commemorate specific people and events is
Jacob R. Straus, Specialist on the Congress
sometimes introduced, as well. In total, 614 measures have
been introduced to request certain stamp designs since the
Jared C. Nagel, Senior Research Librarian
93rd Congress, but only 1% have been enacted or agreed to.
IF11637
These are generally to create a semi-postal stamp—a stamp
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Trends in Commemorative Legislation, 93rd Through 115th Congresses

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