VIDEO: Proposal for new dollar coin to honor astronaut; raise funds for high school robotics programsTwo Michigan lawmakers are hoping a new dollar coin can mean big money for high school robotics teams. Congressman Fred Upton has signed onto a proposed bill to mint a one dollar coin in honor of teacher and astronaut Christa McAuliffe. She and six others were killed in the 1986 space shuttle Challenger explosion. Upton says sales of the coins would help fund "FIRST" high school robotics programs. Michigan Republican Fred Upton says, “Once the money is recouped by the Treasury for the cost of minting the coin, all of the profits then would go to FIRST robotics.” St. Joseph High School Patrick Fischer says, “We can create more FIRST programs in schools with less money. Some of the barriers to schools are the funding to do it, but with the money that could be raised by this bill, we could get FIRST in more areas.” The bill has support in the Senate as well. Upton says he's hoping to get nearly 300 co-sponsors in D.C. before July 15. If approved, the coin could be minted by 2018. Click HERE to watch the video, via WNDU. |