The House voted unanimously on Monday to pass the Common Cents Act, a bipartisan bill that would permanently end production of the one-cent coin.
The legislation bars the U.S. Mint from striking pennies except as collector coins, sets a framework for rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel, and requires that cash wages be rounded upward where a total is not divisible by five cents.
It also allows the Mint to make nickels from cheaper materials. Pennies already in circulation would remain legal tender.
The bill directs the Treasury to monitor the effects on low-income consumers, elderly Americans and people without bank accounts.
The effort was led by House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan and Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.
The Mint stopped producing pennies in November 2025, ending a 232-year run, but that was an administrative decision.
Passage by Congress would make the halt permanent and prevent a future administration from reversing it.
The Treasury has estimated immediate annual savings of $56 million.
As of 2025, producing a penny costs more than three times its face value.
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