Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Senate unanimously passed legislation they co-authored to authorize the U.S. Department of the Treasury to mint $1 coins honoring former president George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush.  President and Mrs. Bush, who had strong ties to the State of Maine, both passed away in 2018.  The legislation, which they introduced in February along with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Rob Portman (R-OH), now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives to be considered.

“I treasured the friendship of President and Mrs. Bush and deeply miss visiting them each summer at their family home at Walker’s Point.  They loved the State of Maine and its people, and we are so proud to have had them as our neighbors and our friends,” said Senator Collins.  “Courage, duty, honor, and compassion defined their lives and their public service to our nation.  I am proud to have led this legislation to create this coin to help pay tribute to President and Mrs. Bush’s wonderful legacy and serve as a reminder of their lasting contributions to Maine and our country.”

“President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush dedicated their lives to public service and to improving the lives of others, and thanks to their special connection to Maine, our state’s citizens got to see that dedication firsthand,“ said Senator King. “The former President’s remarkable career spanned decades, beginning in the U.S. Navy and leading him to Congress, the CIA, and the highest office in the land. The First Lady’s passion for the wellbeing of children helped thousands in Maine at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, and many more around the country. The Bushes left legacies marked by dignity, generosity, and devotion – I’m proud to have led this bill to honor their service to our nation.”

The President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush Dollar Coin Act authorizes Treasury to mint $1 coins honoring the former president and first lady for the year 2019. Since these coins would be part of a coin series, they would not count against the current quota limiting commemorative coins to two per year.  The coins would have no net cost to the U.S. government.