2019 Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act passes senate...
BackroadJunkie
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Coin World is reporting the Senate passed S. 239, the Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019 on July 9.
Senate passes legislation seeking a 2021 Christa McAuliffe silver dollar
The measure seeks a maximum mintage of 350,000 silver dollars honoring McAuliffe, who would have become the first teacher in space had the mission been successful.
House passage looks almost guaranteed.
The text of the senate bill can be found here:
S.239 - Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019
I do believe this is the first commem passed for 2021. I'm trying to reduce my collection anyway. 
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At least this one does not have the standard half, dollar, gold in two finishes. Those who are interested can get the set (unc and proof) at a reasonably price.
For a change I'd like to see a commem program that is a clad half in business strike and proof with the unc coins sold in rolls and bags like the JFK half dollars. Tat was interested people could spend some. Of course, the silver and gold bugs would complain.
Thanks for the update @BackroadJunkie!
I have mixed feelings on this.
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She was part of the Challenger crew, and should be recognized in that way - with all the others.
Exactly. If you're going to commemorate a tragedy, the entire crew was part of it. Not just one person.
And it might be just me, but I would have thought we'd want to commemorate a positive, not a negative event.
This is what Congress is commemorating with this coin:
Congress finds the following:
(1) Christa McAuliffe was a social studies teacher at
Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire.
(2) In 1985, Christa McAuliffe was selected to be the first
participant in the Teacher in Space program of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(3) On January 28, 1986, Christa McAuliffe and 6 other
astronauts were tragically killed during the Space Shuttle
Challenger disaster.
(4) In 1989, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology (in this Act referred to as FIRST') was founded
to inspire young people's interest and participation in science
and technology.
(5) The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be
science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting
mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and
technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster
well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence,
communication, and leadership''.
(6) 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of
FIRST.
(7) Each year, more than 1,000,000 children from the United
States and more than 86 countries participate in a FIRST
program.
(8) Studies have shown that alumni of FIRST programs are
more likely to become scientists and engineers and to volunteer
in their communities.
(9) FIRST is dedicated to carrying on the mission of
Christa McAuliffe of inspiring students and creating a new
generation of dreamers and innovators.
(10) 2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle
Challenger tragedy.
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What about the six other astronauts?
Going to go somewhere... and think.
Edit:
Sponsor:
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne of NH
im not sure about this, just saying
And the other astronauts who have been lost besides those on the Challenger? Hmmmm……
Doggone it, I wonder how their families will all feel?
I knew it would happen.
Nice verbiage for an education themed program, but not a coin for her along.
Even an idiot would not vote for that.
It looks as if this will pass quickly.... However, the reservations expressed above are well founded. Cheers, RickO
So why is this a 2021 coin?
Because Congress.
Sorry, that's the best I can do....
Pass. 'Commem' the whole crew, and the Challenger. And while we're at it, add the Columbia.
Christa McAuliffe. There was a difference. At least for me, and my 5th grade class that watched that tragedy unfold in confusion on T.V. from our school desks. I suppose if you were not a part of the assemblies, and anticipation of having a teacher in space, a first, among NASA pilots who were trained, selected, and signed on to the known perils, and risks...I would surmise you'd have a negative, and contrite attitude...perhaps marginalize the significance...It is easy to take that road...as so few take the other.
Honestly, so be it...how many teachers do you know would have risked their life to teach a few lessons from space? Really,... to inspire, and lead into something unknown to them; without any guarantee of returning, mind you, blindly trusting NASA, and her crew...?
Not to me. It somehow stymies me to think that somehow McAuliffe was more important?, deserving? than the other six crew members who died in the tragedy. Let's put a name to those, as well:
Are these six somehow not or less worthy to you?
How bizarre.
Agreed.
No they are not. It is difficult to make any distinction when tragedy strikes.
However; there is a notable difference. Christa McAuliffe was an ordinary teacher, who stepped out of her domain that had very low, if any, occupational hazards, and entered one that had an extraordinary amount of risk to teach a couple lessons from space. That alone is an exemplary act of courage in my view, and is worthy of being honored. The other brave crew members trained a good portion of their lives, in one way, or, another. They, and their families understood the risks, and it was a profession they chose knowing the hazards, and that potential of losing their life while pursuing their passion. I'm sure the mint will include a nice write up on the aforementioned crew members with the commemorative.
Pass. 'Commem' the whole crew, and the Challenger. And while we're at it, add the Columbia.
And Virgil Grissom, Ed White, Roger Chaffee????
Congress has cemented in my mind that they simply don't care.
I knew it would happen.
Judith Resnik had this one made for her in 2016.
2 down & 5 to go???
https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/2016-medal-celebrates-two-nasa-astronauts.html
I'd like it better if all 7 were honored at the same time though.
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