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Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Medal and Fire Service Bill of Rights Act

Public Law 102-406 · H.R. 2448 · 102nd Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 12, 1992 · Commemorations

Sponsor: Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA-7)

Cosponsors (290): Rep. William Gray,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Medal and Fire Service Bill of Rights Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) to issue silver national medals in commemoration of Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the American Fire Service. Requires a surcharge of $15 per medal sold.

Sets forth other sale and issuance guidelines, including a general waiver of procurement regulations. Names organizations to receive surcharge distributions and the uses of such distributions, including restoration of the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial and grants for fire-service related education programs.

Prohibits the Secretary from distributing such surcharges until the Secretary has received funds from either the sale of coins, or from private donations, sufficient to ensure that the issuance of medals shall result in no net cost to the Federal Government.

Prohibits the issuance of such medals unless the Secretary has received: (1) full payment; (2) security satisfactory to the Secretary to indemnify the United States for full payment; or (3) a guarantee of full payment satisfactory to the Secretary from an insured depository institution.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.

  1. Oct 12, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-406.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 9, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 7, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 3, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Torres moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  9. Jun 18, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Financial Services Committee
  10. Jun 9, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Consumer Affairs and Coinage Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Consumer Affairs and Coinage Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  12. Jul 17, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Consumer Affairs and Coinage Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  13. Jun 17, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Consumer Affairs and Coinage Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee
  14. Jun 5, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Research Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  15. May 23, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Financial Services Committee
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  17. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.