Washington, D.C. – Congressmen Darin LaHood (IL-18) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8) introduced legislation to create a commemorative coin in honor of the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The funds raised through the sale of the commemorative coin would support the long-term maintenance fund for the Lincoln Memorial, which celebrates its 100th anniversary on May 30, 2022.
"As the representative of the same district that Abraham Lincoln once served in Congress, I am proud to have worked to commemorate his legacy both in Illinois and Washington, D.C.," said Rep. LaHood. "The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most recognized buildings in the world, honoring Lincoln's legacy and our country. I am proud to join Congressman Krishnamoorthi on this legislation that will help ensure the Lincoln Memorial remains a beacon of hope and freedom, not just in the United States, but around the world for generations to come."
“I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill alongside Representative LaHood to honor our greatest president and the 100th anniversary of the monument dedicated to him,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “Abraham Lincoln’s legacy lives on across our nation and the world with the Lincoln Memorial standing as a physical tribute to his enduring contributions. Commemorating the centennial of the Great Emancipator’s monument will help spread his message of freedom and hope for generations to come.”
"This commemorative coin celebrates the Lincoln Memorial and 100 years of historic events on this iconic site and provides the public with an opportunity to support the long-term preservation of the most-visited site on the National Mall," said Catherine Townsend, President and CEO of the Trust for the National Mall. "We look forward to continued collaboration with the National Park Service to preserve the Lincoln Memorial for generations to come."
The maintenance fund for the Lincoln Memorial would be managed by the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall.
During their time in Congress, Reps. LaHood and Krishnamoorthi have worked together to preserve Lincoln's legacy. This includes passing legislation to rename a room off the House Floor in the U.S. Capitol after Lincoln and sponsoring legislation to reauthorize the Lincoln Heritage Area in Illinois.
Background on Commemorative Coins:
Congress authorizes commemorative coins that celebrate and honor American people, places, events, and institutions. Although these coins are legal tender, they are not minted for general circulation. Each commemorative coin is produced by the United States Mint in limited quantity and is only available for a limited time and help raise money for important causes. Part of the cost of these coins is a surcharge that goes to organizations and projects that benefit local communities. For example, surcharges on the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center commemorative coins helped build a new visitor center under the U.S. Capitol’s East Plaza. Since the modern commemorative coin program began in 1982, the United States Mint has raised more than $506,301,189 to help build new museums, maintain national monuments like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, preserve historical sites like George Washington’s home, support various Olympic programs, and much more, without adding additional burdens on the US taxpayer.
Learn more about the anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial here.
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