[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 81 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1940
 
                       THE FDR MEMORIAL COIN BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Tanner). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Fish] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FISH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to encourage my colleagues to cosponsor 
H.R. 3270, the FDR commemorative coin bill. Congress mandated the FDR 
Memorial Commission to raise funds from private sources for 
construction of a memorial for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The 
FDR commemorative coin can raise as much as $5 million of private, non-
Federal funds for the purpose.
  The FDR Memorial is not a new project. Congress created the FDR 
Memorial Commission in 1955 to plan and construct a memorial to our 
only 4-term President. The American people feel a deep debt of 
gratitude to President Roosevelt for his leadership in America's 
struggle for peace, well-being and human dignity. Because of its unique 
design, the FDR Memorial is not only a tribute to the life and work of 
the man, but more importantly, it will serve as a vivid reminder of the 
Great Depression and our fight for freedom in World War II. As our 
country commemorates WW II, it is appropriate that we honor the man who 
was our Commander in Chief during the time Americans fought against 
tyranny and defended democracy throughout the world.
  1995 will mark the 50th anniversary of President Roosevelt's death. 
The plans for the memorial, which will be located near the Tidal Basin 
in Washington, DC, has been approved. The ground breaking has taken 
place. The time is now to raise the funds necessary to continue 
construction. The FDR commemorative coin gives the American people a 
wonderful way to support what will certainly be one of our Nation's 
greatest, most visited memorials.
  I urge my colleagues to give the American people an opportunity to 
personally contribute to the memorial in honor of President Roosevelt. 
Please support H.R. 3270.

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