Common Cents Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3074) to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3074
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Common Cents Act''. SEC. 2. SPECIFICATIONS OF 5-CENT COINS AND CEASING PRODUCTION OF ONE-CENT COINS.
Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``weighs 5 grams.'' and inserting the following: ``weighs--
``(A) 5 grams, with respect to such coin that is an alloy of copper and nickel; or
``(B) between 4 and 6 grams, with respect to such coin as described in subsection (c).''; and
(B) in paragraph (6)--
(i) by striking ``except as provided under subsection (c) of this section,''; and
(ii) by striking ``and weighs 3.11 grams'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the sixth sentence--
(i) by inserting ``either'' before ``an alloy''; and
(ii) by inserting ``or a composition described in subsection (c)'' before the period;
(B) by inserting ``with respect to such coins that are an alloy of copper and nickel'' after ``nickel required''; and
(C) by striking ``Except'' through ``zinc'' and inserting ``The one-cent coin is composed of copper and zinc'';
(3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
``(c) 5-cent Coin.--
``(1) In general.--The 5-cent coin may be a coin with an inner layer of zinc and an outer layer of nickel.
``(2) Composition.--The Secretary may prescribe the composition of zinc and nickel in the 5-cent coin, subject to testing and evaluation that such composition--
``(A) reduces the cost incurred to produce such coin; and
``(B) to the greatest extent practicable, has a minimal adverse impact on machines designed to accept coins.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(bb) Ceasing Production of One-cent Coin.--
``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall cease production of one-cent coins for general circulation, but may continue to produce and issue one-cent coins for sale as numismatic items.
``(2) No effect on legal tender.--Any one-cent coin that is minted and issued on any date before the date of the enactment of this subsection shall remain legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues.''. SEC. 3. CASH TRANSACTION ROUNDING.
(a) In General.--Any person, including a financial institution, selling goods or services in a cash transaction or entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction may, if exact change cannot be provided at that time of such transaction, round the covered amount in the following manner:
(1) Rounding down.--Except as provided in paragraph (2)(B), in any case in which the covered amount ends with 1 cent, 2 cents, 6 cents, or 7 cents as the final digit, the amount of cents in the sum may be rounded down to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(2) Rounding up.--
(A) In general.--In any case in which the covered amount ends with 3 cents, 4 cents, 8 cents, or 9 cents as the final digit, the amount of cents in the sum may be rounded up to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(B) Small transactions.--In any case in which the covered amount totals $0.01 or $0.02, such amount may be rounded up to $.05 for any person seeking to make payment with cash.
(b) Additional Authority to Round.--With respect to a person, including a financial institution, conducting a cash transaction with a customer of the person, the amount of cents in the sum of the transaction may be rounded, if such rounding is in favor of the customer, as follows:
(1) Up to the nearest amount divisible by 5, if the person is paying the customer in cash.
(2) Down to the nearest amount divisible by 5, if the customer is paying the person in cash.
(c) Employer Payments to Employees.--
(1) In general.--With respect to an employer providing a cash payment to an employee in an amount that is not divisible by 5 cents, if the employer chooses to round the amount of cents in such payment, the employer shall round the amount of cents in such payment up to the nearest amount divisible by 5 cents.
(2) No rounding requirement.--Nothing in this subsection may be construed to require rounding by an employer described in paragraph (1) who provides a cash payment to an employee in an exact amount.
(d) Application.--Subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall not apply to any transaction for which payment is made by any demand or negotiable instrument, electronic fund transfer, check, gift card, money order, credit card, or other like instrument or method.
(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act may be construed to require any person to round a payment as described in subsections (a) or (b).
(f) Covered Amount Defined.--In this section, the term ``covered amount'' means--
(1) the total transaction amount, including taxes; or
(2) in the case of a person selling goods or services in a cash transaction or entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction, the amount of change due to the customer if the customer provides a cash payment that exceeds the total transaction amount, including taxes. SEC. 4. TREATMENT OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL LAW WITH RESPECT TO CASH TRANSACTION ROUNDING.
(a) Federal Law.--Any person selling goods or services in a cash transaction, including a financial institution, entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction shall not be in violation of any Federal requirement, law, regulation, or standard based on the adherence to the cash rounding provisions described in section 3.
(b) State and Tribal Law.--Any person selling goods or services in a cash transaction, including a financial institution, entering into any other transaction that results in a payment or transfer of cash between the parties to the transaction shall not be in violation of any requirement, law, regulation, or standard of a State, Tribe, or a political subdivision of a State based on the adherence to the cash rounding provisions described in section 3.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act or of any order thereunder shall excuse noncompliance with any Federal, State, Tribal, or local law, regulation, ordinance, or requirement establishing a minimum wage, providing for overtime pay requirements, or providing for paid leave. SEC. 5. STRATEGIC PLAN AND REPORT ON COIN TERMINAL OPERATIONS AND COIN DISTRIBUTION STABILITY.
(a) Strategic Plan and Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available a report that outlines a strategic plan for the acceptance of penny orders and deposits at commercial coin terminals providing services under agreements with the Federal reserve banks nationwide, including--
(1) a description of the Board's approach to limiting disruptions in penny supply and maintaining the stability of and efficiency of the coin distribution system, to the greatest extent practicable;
(2) an evaluation of such coin terminals where the Federal reserve banks no longer accept penny deposits or penny orders;
(3) an assessment of whether processing penny deposits or penny orders at such coin terminals could mitigate any challenges related to ceasing the production of the penny, including challenges related to the implementation of rounding practices;
(4) an assessment by the Secretary of the Treasury, which the Secretary shall conduct and deliver to the Board not less than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act--
(A) on the impact of penny supply and demand disruptions, and rounding practices for check cashing, on low-income communities, older consumers, debanked, unbanked, and underbanked individuals, including feedback from State or local entities; and
(B) that includes recommendations to the Congress to address any adverse impacts identified under subparagraph (A); and
(4) any additional considerations the Board determines relevant to maintaining penny distribution stability.
(b) Evaluation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after submission of the report required under subsection (a), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available a report that evaluates the progress of implementing the strategic plan described in subsection (a), including--
(A) any material changes to the plan; and
(B) any identified or emerging stress in the penny distribution system.
(2) Successive reports.--The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to the covered committees and make publicly available 2 additional reports that evaluate the progress described in paragraph (1) on dates that are not later than--
(A) 18 months after the submission of the report required under subsection (a); and
(B) 30 months after the submission of the report required under subsection (a). SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Covered committees.--The term ``covered committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
(2) Financial institution.--The term ``financial institution'' means any person, other than an individual, the business of which is engaging in financial activities in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(k))
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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the CBO estimate for this legislation.
EFFECTS ON DIRECT SPENDING AND REVENUES OF LEGISLATION CONSIDERED UNDER SUSPENSION OF THE RULES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEEK OF JULY 13, 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Effect on Direct Information on Suspension Bill Bill Number Title Spending Effect on Revenues Direct Spending and Text at Revenue Effects doc.house.gov -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H.R. 3074........................ Common Cents Act, as Increase by Less None............... ................... ........... https:// amended. Than $500K. docs.house.gov/ billsthisweek/ 202607413/ HR3074_SUSxml.PDF --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the House floor in support of Republican Conference Chairwoman McClain's bill, the Common Cents Act.
This is a simple, common ``cents'' bill aimed at saving taxpayer dollars and modernizing a part of our currency system that no longer makes economic sense.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to an audit of the United States Mint, it costs $3.69 to make one penny.
That is the 19th year in a row, Mr. Speaker, the government has spent more to make a penny than a penny is worth.
Last year alone, taxpayers lost more than $85 million producing pennies.
Chairwoman McClain's bill simply codifies President Trump's directive to the Mint to stop producing pennies.
Of course, we have to be practical. If we are going to no longer make pennies, people are likely to use more nickels. The problem is that nickels aren't exactly a bargain either and the gentleman from Massachusetts knows it.
They cost nearly 14 cents to produce, so we need to make sure we don't solve one problem by creating another one. That is why Mrs. McClain's bill also gives the U.S. Treasury Secretary the authority to move to a lower cost, zinc-based nickel to ensure that increased nickel demand is not mitigating the savings due to the elimination of the penny.
The bill also addresses something retailers and consumers are already experiencing. With fewer pennies available, many cash transactions are rounded to the nearest nickel.
H.R. 3074 provides a clear, uniform standard for how these transactions can be rounded, giving businesses certainty and ensuring everyone is playing by the same rules.
This bill is about good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. It is about recognizing when government can do things more efficiently, making smart updates where they are needed, and saving money in the process.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3074, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. I really just ask her for a penny for her thoughts.
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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. In my experience of being chairman of the committee on which he serves, he is a man who always comes to the committee and plans on throwing his 2 cents into every debate.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts and the minority for helping to make this a strong bipartisan bill to do something that is common sense, with no pun intended. In fact, for all of the good reasons that Mr. Lucas and Mrs. McClain outlined, this is the right decision at the right time for the American people.
Mr. Speaker, I remind both the bankers across the country, the retailers, and all of the consumers out there that, as noted by Mr. Garcia, there are well over 100 billion pennies floating around out there in jars and drawers and cash registers across the country. You may still use those pennies until your heart is content.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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