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
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