[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 140 (Friday, September 30, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 30, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      NATIONAL PENNY CHARITY WEEK

  Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Post Office and Civil Service be discharged from further 
consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 415) designating the 
week beginning October 16, 1994, as ``National Penny Charity Week.''
  The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I do not 
object, but I would simply like to inform the House that the minority 
has no objection to the legislation now being considered.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 415. Mr. Speaker, 
there are 170 billion pennies in jars, dresser drawers, and piggy banks 
all across this country. They are not being spent. They are not being 
carried by individuals. They are being deposited there every night 
because the lowly penny has not much purchasing power in the minds of 
the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, our mint will spend $164 million this year to produce 
new pennies because of Americans hoarding them. One evening I thought, 
as I was depositing the pennies from my pocket into the jar in my room, 
that if everyone would donate their hoarded pennies to their favorite 
charity, charities would have $1.7 billion more to spend on worthwhile 
causes. In addition, the demand on the U.S. Mint to produce additional 
pennies would be reduced, and people would have tax deductions that 
they would otherwise not have.
  Mr. Speaker, the Penny Lovers of America is a not-for-profit 
organization that promotes character, scholarship, and patriotism among 
America's youth by collecting penny donations to finance our young 
people's educational pursuits. To celebrate their 10th anniversary they 
are conducting a penny recycling campaign.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution would mesh very closely with their work. 
It designates the week of October 16, 1994, as ``National Penny Charity 
Week.'' It urges Americans to empty their jars, dresser drawers, and 
piggy banks, and to give their pennies to their favorite charities, 
especially to direct service charities, to help the needy and the poor 
in our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that the gentleman from Missouri, Bill 
Clay, and the gentleman from Indiana, John Myers, the chairman and 
ranking member, respectively, of the Committee on Post Office and Civil 
Service, are cosponsors with me on this resolution, together with 200 
other Members of the House. I commend the resolution to all Members.
  Mr. Speaker, the individual penny, it is true, cannot buy much any 
more. However, combined with others, millions of others, it can do a 
lot of good for a lot of people. Mr. Speaker, I would urge all 
Americans to participate in this campaign, give their pennies to 
charities during the week of October 16 through October 22. It will 
mean a great deal to all of us in this country.

                              {time}  1610

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I 
commend the gentlewoman from Maryland for her great leadership on both 
the issue of breast cancer and certainly on population and development 
as well, and for her excellent statement on both of those resolutions.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gutierrez). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the joint resolution, as follows:

                              H.J. Res 415

       Whereas 170 billion pennies--$1.7 billion--are circulating 
     in the economy;
       Whereas financial institutions, merchants, and retail 
     establishments are reporting a shortage of pennies;
       Whereas this shortage is a result of American people 
     hoarding their pennies;
       Whereas, during fiscal year 1994, the United States Mint 
     will spend $1.64 million to produce 13.3 billion pennies in 
     order to counter the effect of hoarding;
       Whereas donating hoarded pennies to charities provides the 
     charities with funds, diminishes the shortage of pennies, 
     lowers the demand on the United States Mint to produce 
     additional pennies, and ultimately saves the United States 
     Treasury money;
       Whereas Penny Lover's of America is a not-for-profit 
     charitable organization that seeks to promote character, 
     scholarship, and patriotism among America's youth by 
     collecting penny donations to finance their educational 
     pursuits;
       Whereas Penny Lover's of America is celebrating its 10th 
     anniversary this year by conducting a penny recycling 
     campaign; and
       Whereas ``National Penny Charity Week'' coincides with 
     Penny Lover's of America's ``National Penny Campaign 
     Recycling Project'' both of which will assist in alleviating 
     the penny shortage and raise funds for charitable and 
     community causes: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 
     designating the week of October 16, 1994, as ``National Penny 
     Charity Week'' and to call on the people of the United States 
     to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities, including the donation of pennies to charities, 
     particularly to those which provide direct services to the 
     Nation's underprivileged and disadvantaged population, and to 
     worthy community causes.

  The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third 
time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider 
was laid on the table.

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