1-1 By: McCoulsky (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister) H.C.R. No. 127 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 14, 1993; 1-3 May 18, 1993, read first time and referred to Committee on Health 1-4 and Human Services; May 23, 1993, reported favorably by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 23, 1993, sent to printer.) 1-6 COMMITTEE VOTE 1-7 Yea Nay PNV Absent 1-8 Zaffirini x 1-9 Ellis x 1-10 Madla x 1-11 Moncrief x 1-12 Nelson x 1-13 Patterson x 1-14 Shelley x 1-15 Truan x 1-16 Wentworth x 1-17 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-18 WHEREAS, Numismatics, the study or collection of currency, is 1-19 a hobby with a long and distinguished history that is practiced by 1-20 millions of individuals all over the world; and 1-21 WHEREAS, By collecting and cataloguing rare coins, tokens, 1-22 paper money, and other related objects, these individuals are 1-23 helping to preserve the symbols of economic exchange throughout the 1-24 world, thus allowing future generations a glimpse into history; and 1-25 WHEREAS, Like other collectors, numismatists are particularly 1-26 interested in colorful, unique specimens that may be valued for 1-27 their artistic merit as well as their historical significance; and 1-28 WHEREAS, Food coupons, commonly referred to as "food stamps," 1-29 distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture meet 1-30 these criteria and, as a medium of exchange used to pay for goods 1-31 or services rendered, fall into the general category of objects 1-32 collected by numismatists; and 1-33 WHEREAS, Under the terms of The Food Stamp Act of 1964, as 1-34 amended, redeemed food stamps are remitted to the federal reserve, 1-35 which destroys the cancelled coupons to prevent their further use; 1-36 this Act specifies that food stamps may be issued only to 1-37 households that have been certified as eligible and prohibits the 1-38 disposal of cancelled coupons outside authorized channels, thus 1-39 preventing numismatists from adding these specimens to their 1-40 collections; and 1-41 WHEREAS, At a time when millions of Americans are committing 1-42 themselves to reducing waste and pollution by recycling and 1-43 eliminating unnecessary paper and plastic products, this continuous 1-44 cycle of creating and destroying paper food stamps seems to be 1-45 unconscionably inefficient; by allowing collectors to purchase 1-46 cancelled food coupons for a fraction of the face value, the 1-47 government could reduce waste and, at the same time, create a 1-48 source of revenue for the United States Department of Agriculture; 1-49 and 1-50 WHEREAS, This type of exchange would not be unprecedented, 1-51 since current federal laws and federal regulations allow 1-52 numismatists and other hobbyists to purchase U.S. Military Payment 1-53 Certificates (MPC's) and ration coupons from the 1940's; like food 1-54 stamps, MPC's were to be used only by authorized persons, in this 1-55 case within the confines of U.S. military establishments, and were 1-56 not intended for circulation among the general public, but the 1-57 historical value of these certificates was soon recognized and they 1-58 have become collectors' items; and 1-59 WHEREAS, By clearly endorsing the used food coupons with the 1-60 word "void," "used," or "cancelled," or by devising some other way 1-61 to cancel coupons without destroying their artistic value, the 1-62 United States Department of Agriculture could prevent fraudulent 1-63 uses of these coupons while allowing legitimate hobbyists to enjoy 1-64 them as part of their collections; and 1-65 WHEREAS, At this time, several states are experimenting with 1-66 a plastic debit card, similar to a credit card, that could 1-67 eventually render the current paper food stamp system obsolete; and 1-68 WHEREAS, By acting now to remove the restrictions against the 2-1 collection of cancelled food stamps, Congress could create a huge 2-2 market that would absorb the surplus coupons and simultaneously 2-3 provide a new source of revenue; in doing so, elected officials 2-4 would demonstrate dedication to streamlining government waste and 2-5 would allow numismatists around the world an opportunity to add 2-6 this unique form of American currency to their collections; now, 2-7 therefore, be it 2-8 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas, 2-9 Regular Session, 1993, hereby memorialize the Congress of the 2-10 United States to enact legislation to authorize the United States 2-11 Department of Agriculture to sell processed, previously-redeemed, 2-12 discontinued, and no-longer negotiable food stamps to the public 2-13 for numismatic purposes; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 2-15 copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, 2-16 the president of the senate and speaker of the house of 2-17 representatives of the United States Congress, and all members of 2-18 the Texas delegation to the Congress, with the request that this 2-19 resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to 2-20 the Congress of the United States. 2-21 * * * * * 2-22 Austin, 2-23 Texas 2-24 May 23, 1993 2-25 Hon. Bob Bullock 2-26 President of the Senate 2-27 Sir: 2-28 We, your Committee on Health and Human Services to which was 2-29 referred H.C.R. No. 127, have had the same under consideration, and 2-30 I am instructed to report it back to the Senate with the 2-31 recommendation that it do pass and be printed. 2-32 Zaffirini, 2-33 Chair 2-34 * * * * * 2-35 WITNESSES 2-36 FOR AGAINST ON 2-37 ___________________________________________________________________ 2-38 Name: Gregory D. Watson x 2-39 Representing: himself 2-40 City: Austin, Texas 2-41 -------------------------------------------------------------------