By: Hal C Clarke

A House bill aimed at honoring the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks by minting commemorative gold and silver coins has stalled in Congress, leaving families of victims and first responders questioning whether lawmakers are losing focus nearly a quarter-century after the attacks, as NY Post reported.

The legislation would require the U.S. Mint to design and issue special coins marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with proceeds earmarked for the financially strained National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. But despite bipartisan backing from lawmakers in the New York–New Jersey region, the measure appears stuck in committee, congressional insiders told NY Post reported.

Introduced last March by Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), the bill has attracted just 184 co-sponsors — 34 short of what is needed to move forward. Of those supporters, only 52 are Republicans, even though the GOP currently holds the House majority, NY Post reported. The remaining 152 co-sponsors are Democrats.

While the bill has drawn support from several Republicans in the tri-state area, including Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, Andrew Garbarino and Jeff Van Drew, it has failed to gain meaningful traction beyond the region most directly impacted by the attacks, NY Post reported.

The legislation would allow the U.S. Mint to issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins and 400,000 silver dollar coins in 2026. Each gold coin would include a $35 surcharge and each silver coin a $10 surcharge, generating as much as $5.75 million for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, NY Post reported.

For families who lost loved ones, the delay feels like a painful reminder of fading urgency. Monica Iken-Murphy, whose husband Michael Iken was killed at the World Trade Center, said she was stunned by the lack of momentum as the anniversary approaches.

“These people representing us should be more vigilant and on top of what’s going on and preparing for the 25th anniversary,” she said, NY Post reported. Iken-Murphy noted that she still has not recovered her husband’s remains and considers the memorial a sacred refuge.

“I would gladly buy the coins,” she added, saying the memorial plays a vital role in preserving the memory of those lost.

Advocates for first responders also voiced frustration. John Feal, a longtime activist for 9/11 rescue and recovery workers, said the bill would help the museum meet what he described as a moral obligation to tell the full story of the attacks and their aftermath, NY Post reported.

Still, Feal cautioned that while the coin legislation matters, Congress faces an even more pressing issue: securing long-term funding for health programs that treat 9/11-related illnesses — funding that is projected to run dry later this decade, NY Post reported.

Queens Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola expressed disbelief that the bill remains stalled, particularly given that Congress approved commemorative coins for the upcoming FIFA World Cup without apparent controversy.