Legislation calling for a silver dollar commemorating the Model T Ford and the 100th anniversary of that firm?s Highland Park, Mich., plant that opened in 1910 and pioneered the automobile assembly line, was introduced Feb. 14 in the U.S. Senate. The House version was expected later in February.
Called for are up to 500,000 silver dollars dated 2010.
The House bill is expected to be introduced by Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich. In the Senate, the sponsors are Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich, and Carl Levin, D-Mich. Both bills have identical language.
A $10 surcharge would be applied to the sale of each coin, the now traditional fund-raising amount. The funds raised would be divided. Half of up to $5 million would go to the Automobile National Heritage Area Partnership, Inc. The other half would go to the Edison Institute, otherwise known as ?The Henry Ford? in Dearborn, Mich. Both organizations would be required to fund educational programs relating to the Model T.
The legislation notes that more than 15 million T?s were produced 1908-1927.
