Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton

Re: HRES 1485 (119th Congress), Expressing support for the designation of August 22, 2026, as "Chuck Brown Day", and honoring Chuck Brown's contributions to music and to the District of Columbia. · Latest action (2026-08-20): Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
VFA SI Solution #289 · published 2026-08-23 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/289
Office of record (Congress.gov): 2136 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC · (202) 225-8050

Chuck Brown Commemorative Coin Act of 2026

The measure, as described from the official record: To officially recognize and honor Chuck Brown's contributions to music and the District of Columbia through a symbolic designation.

The proposal

This Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins and 500,000 $1 silver coins in commemoration of Chuck Brown and his contributions to go-go music and the District of Columbia. The design shall be developed in consultation with the Chuck Brown family and the Mayor of the District of Columbia. All coins shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities. The sale of coins shall include a surcharge of $10 per gold coin and $5 per silver coin. Surcharges shall be deposited into the 'Chuck Brown Music Education Fund' administered by the National Endowment for the Arts. The fund shall provide grants to music education programs in Washington, D.C., public schools. The Secretary may charge a reasonable fee to cover minting and marketing costs. The program shall sunset five years after the date of enactment. The Comptroller General shall audit the fund annually. The Secretary shall report to Congress on the program within two years of enactment.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source: Surcharges on coin sales; no appropriated funds.
funding amount: Variable based on sales; estimated $1 million if all coins sold.
sunset years: 5 years
oversight body: Government Accountability Office (audit) and Treasury Inspector General.
enforcement mechanism: Standard fraud and abuse provisions; false claims liability.
effective date: 90 days after enactment.

Constitutional basis

Article I, Section 8, Clause 5 (coin money)
Tenth Amendment (reserves to states, but coinage is federal)

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Democratic priorities: honors a DC artist, supports arts education in underserved communities. Republican priorities: no new federal spending (self-funding), limited government involvement, sunset provision ensures expiration.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/289 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology