ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 7, Number 142
November 17, 1998

In this issue:

[1] LIBRARY OF CONGRESS BICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT OF 
1998 BECOMES LAW
[2] LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SECURITY FUNDS APPROVED
	
[1] LIBRARY OF CONGRESS BICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT OF 
1998 BECOMES LAW

On October 19, 1998, President Clinton signed into law, H.R. 3790, 
the Library of Congress Bicentennial Coin Act of 1998 (now P.L. 
105-268).  We wish to thank all who contacted their 
Representatives and asked them to cosponsor this piece of 
legislation.  In order for H.R. 3790 to be assured passage, at 
least 290 House cosponsors were required; 299 Representatives 
actually cosponsored this bill.

The new law provides for the minting of coins in commemoration of 
the Bicentennial of the Library of Congress. The statute directs 
the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue five-dollar gold 
coins and one-dollar silver coins emblematic of the Library of 
Congress.  It also authorizes the Secretary to mint and issue $10 
bimetallic coins of gold and platinum in lieu of the gold coins.  
Proceeds from the sale of the coin, beyond that needed to cover 
the costs to the government of minting them, will be contributed 
to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board for educational 
outreach efforts.  The U.S. Mint will now work with the Library on 
the design and marketing of the coins, which will be issued in 
2000.

[2] LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SECURITY FUNDS APPROVED

The omnibus funding package (H.R. 4328, P.L. 105-277) included 
$106.8 million for the Capitol Police to improve security at the 
U.S. Capitol complex, including $16.9 million to be available for 
security purposes at the Library of Congress.

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