Congress funds 9/11 memorial through voluntary coin sales—no taxpayer cost
S. 1289 — 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act · Filed by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) · 65 cosponsors · Introduced Apr 3, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell commemorative coins—up to 50,000 gold coins and 400,000 silver coins—marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Buyers pay face value plus a surcharge ($35 per gold coin, $10 per silver coin); all surcharges go directly to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to support its operations. The coins carry no net cost to taxpayers because the Mint recovers all design and production expenses from the sale price before any surcharge reaches the museum.
Why we flagged it
This is a straightforward commemorative coin program—a routine legislative vehicle for raising voluntary funds for a public memorial. It carries no hidden riders, no tax carve-outs, and no narrow private benefit. The bill is functionally a fundraising mechanism for a public institution.
What the text implies
- The 2-commemorative-coin-per-year cap (section 7, limitation) means this program will consume one of only two annual slots available under federal law, potentially delaying or blocking other commemorative coin proposals in 2027.
- Surcharge revenue is contingent on sales volume; if demand is low, the museum receives less funding than anticipated, creating uncertainty for its operational planning.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
National September 11 Memorial and Museum