Lisa McClain (R-MI)

Common Cents Act

H.R. 10167 · House bill Finance and Financial Sector

A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor

Last activity — Presented to President.

On the President's desk

Passed both chambers in the same form and has been sent to the President.

The President has ten days, not counting Sundays, to sign it or send it back. Doing nothing lets it become law — unless Congress adjourns in that time, in which case doing nothing kills it.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. Passed House voice vote
  3. Passed Senate unanimous consent
  4. To President

No one's position on it was recorded: the House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together), and the Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote).

The President has until Tuesday, November 24 to sign it or veto it — 10 days from today. Doing neither makes it law without a signature, unless Congress adjourns first, which kills it.

What this bill would do

This bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the one-cent coin for general circulation, though existing pennies remain legal tender. It allows cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents when exact change is not available. The legislation also sets rules for rounding cash payments made by employers to employees, requiring them to round up to the nearest five cents if they choose to round. Furthermore, the bill protects people and businesses from violating federal, state, or tribal laws when they follow these new cash rounding rules. Finally, it requires reports and strategic plans from the Federal Reserve and the Secretary of the Treasury regarding coin distribution and potential impacts on vulnerable communities.

Yes· 3 of 7

  • Scored +2

    Would business owners be better off under this?

    Reduces the administrative burden and cost of managing pennies in cash transactions.

  • Scored +1

    Does this reduce what the federal government owes?

    Ceasing penny production likely reduces government costs associated with minting coins that cost more to produce than their face value.

  • Scored +1

    Does this reduce what the federal government spends?

    Eliminating the production of pennies reduces expenditures by the U.S. Mint.

The opposite

  • Scored -1

    Would households on low incomes be better off under this?

    Low-income individuals using cash may face slightly higher costs due to rounding up on small transactions.