H.C.R. No. 127
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, Numismatics, the study or collection of currency, is
1-2 a hobby with a long and distinguished history that is practiced by
1-3 millions of individuals all over the world; and
1-4 WHEREAS, By collecting and cataloguing rare coins,
1-5 tokens, paper money, and other related objects, these individuals
1-6 are helping to preserve the symbols of economic exchange throughout
1-7 the world, thus allowing future generations a glimpse into history;
1-8 and
1-9 WHEREAS, Like other collectors, numismatists are particularly
1-10 interested in colorful, unique specimens that may be valued for
1-11 their artistic merit as well as their historical significance; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Food coupons, commonly referred to as "food stamps,"
1-13 distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture meet
1-14 these criteria and, as a medium of exchange used to pay for goods
1-15 or services rendered, fall into the general category of objects
1-16 collected by numismatists; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Under the terms of The Food Stamp Act of 1964, as
1-18 amended, redeemed food stamps are remitted to the federal reserve,
1-19 which destroys the cancelled coupons to prevent their further use;
1-20 this Act specifies that food stamps may be issued only to
1-21 households that have been certified as eligible and prohibits the
1-22 disposal of cancelled coupons outside authorized channels, thus
1-23 preventing numismatists from adding these specimens to their
1-24 collections; and
2-1 WHEREAS, At a time when millions of Americans are committing
2-2 themselves to reducing waste and pollution by recycling and
2-3 eliminating unnecessary paper and plastic products, this continuous
2-4 cycle of creating and destroying paper food stamps seems to be
2-5 unconscionably inefficient; by allowing collectors to purchase
2-6 cancelled food coupons for a fraction of the face value, the
2-7 government could reduce waste and, at the same time, create a
2-8 source of revenue for the United States Department of Agriculture;
2-9 and
2-10 WHEREAS, This type of exchange would not be unprecedented,
2-11 since current federal laws and federal regulations allow
2-12 numismatists and other hobbyists to purchase U.S. Military Payment
2-13 Certificates (MPC's) and ration coupons from the 1940's; like food
2-14 stamps, MPC's were to be used only by authorized persons, in this
2-15 case within the confines of U.S. military establishments, and were
2-16 not intended for circulation among the general public, but the
2-17 historical value of these certificates was soon recognized and they
2-18 have become collectors' items; and
2-19 WHEREAS, By clearly endorsing the used food coupons
2-20 with the word "void," "used," or "cancelled," or by devising some
2-21 other way to cancel coupons without destroying their artistic
2-22 value, the United States Department of Agriculture could prevent
2-23 fraudulent uses of these coupons while allowing legitimate
2-24 hobbyists to enjoy them as part of their collections; and
2-25 WHEREAS, At this time, several states are experimenting with
2-26 a plastic debit card, similar to a credit card, that could
2-27 eventually render the current paper food stamp system obsolete; and
3-1 WHEREAS, By acting now to remove the restrictions
3-2 against the collection of cancelled food stamps, Congress could
3-3 create a huge market that would absorb the surplus coupons and
3-4 simultaneously provide a new source of revenue; in doing so,
3-5 elected officials would demonstrate dedication to streamlining
3-6 government waste and would allow numismatists around the world an
3-7 opportunity to add this unique form of American currency to their
3-8 collections; now, therefore, be it
3-9 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas,
3-10 Regular Session, 1993, hereby memorialize the Congress of the
3-11 United States to enact legislation to authorize the United States
3-12 Department of Agriculture to sell processed, previously-redeemed,
3-13 discontinued, and no-longer negotiable food stamps to the public
3-14 for numismatic purposes; and, be it further
3-15 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
3-16 copies of this resolution to the president of the United States,
3-17 the president of the senate and speaker of the house of
3-18 representatives of the United States Congress, and all members of
3-19 the Texas delegation to the Congress, with the request that this
3-20 resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to
3-21 the Congress of the United States.
3-22 the Congress of the United States.
3-23 McCoulskey
3-24 H.C.R. No. 127
3-25 _______________________________ _______________________________
3-26 President of the Senate Speaker of the House
3-27 I certify that H.C.R. No. 127 was adopted by the House on May
4-1 14, 1993, by a non-record vote.
4-2 _______________________________
4-3 Chief Clerk of the House
4-4 I certify that H.C.R. No. 127 was adopted by the Senate on
4-5 May 26, 1993.
4-6 _______________________________
4-7 Secretary of the Senate
4-8 APPROVED: _____________________
4-9 Date
4-10 _____________________
4-11 Governor