[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10489-H10493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BLACK REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOTS COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1776) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins
in commemoration of black revolutionary war patriots, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1776
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Black Revolutionary War
Patriots Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) $1 Silver Coins.--In commemoration of Black
Revolutionary War patriots and the 275th anniversary of the
birth of the 1st Black Revolutionary War patriot, Crispus
Attucks, who was the 1st American colonist killed by British
troops during the Revolutionary period, the Secretary of the
Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the
``Secretary'') shall mint and issue not more than 500,000 1
dollar coins, each of which shall--
(1) weigh 26.73 grams;
(2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(3) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
(b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be
legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United
States Code.
(c) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5136 of
title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act
shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 3. SOURCES OF BULLION.
The Secretary shall obtain silver for minting coins under
this Act only from stockpiles established under the Strategic
and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) Design Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The design--
(A) on the obverse side of the coins minted under this Act
shall be emblematic of the 1st Black Revolutionary War
patriot, Crispus Attucks; and
(B) on the reverse side of such coins shall be emblematic
of the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial.
(2) Designation and inscriptions.--On each coin minted
under this Act there shall be--
(A) a designation of the value of the coin;
(B) an inscription of the year ``1998''; and
(C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We
Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus
Unum''.
(b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this
Act shall be--
(1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the
Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation and the
Commission of Fine Arts; and
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory
Committee.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be
issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Mint Facility.--Only 1 facility of the United States
Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the
coins minted under this Act.
(c) Commencement of Issuance.--The Secretary may issue
coins minted under this Act beginning January 1, 1998 .
(d) Termination of Minting Authority.--No coins may be
minted under this Act after December 31, 1998.
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.
(a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under this Act shall be
sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
(1) the face value of the coins;
(2) the surcharge provided in subsection (d) with respect
to such coins; and
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses,
marketing, and shipping).
(b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the
coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid Orders.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders
for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of
such coins.
(2) Discount.--Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders
under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
(d) Surcharges.--All sales shall include a surcharge of $10
per coin.
SEC. 7. GENERAL WAIVER OF PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), no
provision of law governing procurement or public contracts
shall be applicable to the procurement of goods and services
necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
(b) Equal Employment Opportunity.--Subsection (a) shall not
relieve any person entering into a contract under the
authority of this Act from complying with any law relating to
equal employment opportunity.
SEC. 8. DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES.
Subject to section 10(a), all surcharges received by the
Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall
be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Black Revolutionary
War Patriots Foundation for the purpose of raising an
endowment to support the construction of a Black
Revolutionary War Patriots Memorial.
SEC. 9. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.
(a) No Net Cost to the Government.--The Secretary shall
take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that minting
and issuing coins under this Act will not result in any net
cost to the United States Government.
(b) Payment for Coins.--A coin shall not be issued under
this Act unless the Secretary has received--
(1) full payment for the coin;
(2) security satisfactory to the Secretary to indemnify the
United States for full payment; or
(3) a guarantee of full payment satisfactory to the
Secretary from a depository institution whose deposits are
insured by the
[[Page H10490]]
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit
Union Administration Board.
SEC. 10. CONDITIONS ON PAYMENT OF SURCHARGES.
(a) Payment of Surcharges.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no amount derived from the proceeds of any
surcharge imposed on the sale of coins issued under this Act
shall be paid to the Black Revolutionary War Patriots
Foundation unless--
(1) all numismatic operation and program costs allocable to
the program under which such coins are produced and sold have
been recovered; and
(2) the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation submits
an audited financial statement which demonstrates to the
satisfaction of the Secretary of the Treasury that, with
respect to all projects or purposes for which the proceeds of
such surcharge may be used, the Foundation has raised funds
from private sources for such projects and purposes in an
amount which is equal to or greater than the maximum amount
the Foundation may receive from the proceeds of such
surcharge.
(b) Annual Audits.--
(1) Annual audits of recipients required.--The Black
Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation shall provide, as a
condition for receiving any amount derived from the proceeds
of any surcharge imposed on the sale of coins issued under
this Act, for an annual audit, in accordance with generally
accepted government auditing standards by an independent
public accountant selected by the Foundation, of all such
payments to the Foundation beginning in the first fiscal year
of the Foundation in which any such amount is received and
continuing until all such amounts received by the Foundation
with respect to such surcharges are fully expended or placed
in trust.
(2) Minimum requirements for annual audits.--At a minimum,
each audit of the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall report--
(A) the amount of payments received by the Foundation
during the fiscal year of the Foundation for which the audit
is conducted which are derived from the proceeds of any
surcharge imposed on the sale of coins issued under this Act;
(B) the amount expended by the Foundation from the proceeds
of such surcharges during the fiscal year of the Foundation
for which the audit is conducted; and
(C) whether all expenditures by the Foundation from the
proceeds of such surcharges during the fiscal year of the
Foundation for which the audit is conducted were for
authorized purposes.
(3) Responsibility of foundation to account for
expenditures of surcharges.--The Black Revolutionary War
Patriots Foundation shall take appropriate steps, as a
condition for receiving any payment of any amount derived
from the proceeds of any surcharge imposed on the sale of
coins issued under this Act, to ensure that the receipt of
the payment and the expenditure of the proceeds of such
surcharge by the Foundation in each fiscal year of the
Foundation can be accounted for separately from all other
revenues and expenditures of the Foundation.
(4) Submission of audit report.--Not later than 90 days
after the end of any fiscal year of the Black Revolutionary
War Patriots Foundation for which an audit is required under
paragraph (1), the Foundation shall--
(A) submit a copy of the report to the Secretary of the
Treasury; and
(B) make a copy of the report available to the public.
(5) Use of surcharges for audits.--The Black Revolutionary
War Patriots Foundation may use any amount received from
payments derived from the proceeds of any surcharge imposed
on the sale of coins issued under this Act to pay the cost of
an audit required under paragraph (1).
(6) Waiver of subsection.--The Secretary of the Treasury
may waive the application of any paragraph of this subsection
to the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation for any
fiscal year after taking into account the amount of
surcharges which such Foundation received or expended during
such year.
(7) Availability of books and records.--The Black
Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation shall provide, as a
condition for receiving any payment derived from the proceeds
of any surcharge imposed on the sale of coins issued under
this Act, to the Inspector General of the Department of the
Treasury or the Comptroller General of the United States,
upon the request of such Inspector General or the Comptroller
General, all books, records, and workpapers belonging to or
used by the Foundation, or by any independent public
accountant who audited the Foundation in accordance with
paragraph (1), which may relate to the receipt or expenditure
of any such amount by the Foundation.
(c) Use of Agents or Attorneys to Influence Commemorative
Coin Legislation.--No portion of any payment to the Black
Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation from amounts derived
from the proceeds of surcharges imposed on the sale of coins
issued under this Act may be used, directly or indirectly, by
the Foundation to compensate any agent or attorney for
services rendered to support or influence in any way
legislative action of the Congress relating to the coins
minted and issued under this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Delaware [Mr. Castle] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Flake] each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle].
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1776 is the last commemorative coin bill to be
considered here today. It commemorates and serves to remind us all of
the selfless sacrifice by thousands of individual black patriots during
our revolutionary war. The proceeds of the 500,000 silver $1 coins
authorized under this legislation will go toward helping to build a
memorial to these patriots that will be situated on the Mall. The coin
will feature a likeness of Crispus Attucks, a black man who was killed
in the Boston Massacre, the first American victim of the Revolutionary
War. This project came to fruition as a result of the sponsors working
closely with the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and
carefully observing Banking Committee rules to produce a coin that
meets all the strict new relevant criteria, including the taxpayer
protection language of the Commemorative Coin Reform Act of 1995.
I urge its immediate adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Too often, Mr. Speaker, we witness the significant contributions of
segments of our society being relegated to the footnotes of history. We
hear instead a history myopic in its view of those who laid the
foundation for this Nation, and the people whose sacrifices were of
equal value are undervalued, mislabeled, and often forgotten. Today, by
passing H.R. 1776, we expand the focus of history's view of African-
Americans contribution to the liberty and freedom we enjoy as
Americans.
H.R. 1776 will celebrate the birth, 275 years ago, of Crispus Attucks
who was the first casualty in the American Revolution. Attucks was a
black man killed by British troops in Boston on March 5, 1770, during
an event that would become known as the Boston Massacre. Moreover, some
5,000 other black patriots fought during the Revolutionary War and its
major battles of Lexington, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, Concord, and
others. Today we will ensure that people understand the heroism of
Attucks, and men like Peter Salem who was the hero of Bunker Hill when
he slew the British commander.
Perhaps a more compelling reason to commemorate these men by this
coin, and by commemorating them on the Mall, is that despite being
relegated to second-class citizenship and servitude, they fought for
the values of freedom upon which this country was founded. They
recognized the genius of equality, freedom, justice, and liberty. They
and others wished to share this American vision, and recognized that
the cost of these freedoms was through the blood sweat and tears lost
on the battlefield,
For the sacrifices of these black patriots, and the sacrifices of all
the founders, we owe a great debt, and we must never forget that the
steel-like strength of our Democracy was forged on the backs of many.
H.R. 1776 accomplishes this goal, and I urge its unanimous passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Johnson].
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak
in strong support of H.R. 1776.
This is an important small bill that I introduced with my
distinguished colleagues, the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. J.C. Watts,
and the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Payne, with enormous backing
from many, many Members on both sides of the aisle. It directs the
Secretary of the Treasury in 1998 to mint 500,000 coins in recognition
of the African-American patriots who fought for our Nation's
independence and our individual freedom.
The bill specifically commemorates the 275th anniversary of the birth
of Crispus Attucks as the first to fall during the American Revolution.
He is a prominent black figure in American history and a person whose
life every one of our children should understand. He is a powerful
symbol of black patriots' courageous contributions during
[[Page H10491]]
this defining moment that created our Nation.
H.R. 1776 has overwhelming bipartisan support with more than 300
cosponsors in the House of Representatives. Its companion legislation
introduced by Senators John Chafee and Carol Moseley-Braun has the
support of more than 60 Senate cosponsors.
H.R. 1776 will recognize the contribution of African-Americans during
this historic period of our Nation's history when we came into being,
and distribution of these unique coins will help augment the
significant fundraising efforts of the black patriots memorial to
succeed in funding the black Revolutionary War patriots memorial.
As my colleagues know, in 1986 Congress approved legislation I
introduced with the support of many of my friends here on both sides of
the aisle to authorize the construction of a memorial to the black
soldiers who fought and died during our Nation's war for freedom and
independence. The memorial's design has been approved, and it will be
located in Constitution Gardens on the national Mall between the
Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It will be the first
monument on the Mall which specifically honors the achievements of
African-Americans.
I would have to say, Mr. Speaker, that sometimes people in America
think that as individual citizens they have no influence in this body.
I would tell my colleagues that many years ago my friend Maurice
Barbosa, a lawyer from Plainville, CT, the adjoining town to my
hometown, came to me with this idea. This was his vision.
Mr. Speaker, through him and his hard work and through so many in
this body, we were able to authorize that memorial to get it designed
and approved, and it will finally sit on the Mall, the first monument
to acknowledge and to honor the achievements of African-Americans, and
so I thank Maurice Barbosa and Wayne Smith, the current head of the
Black Patriots Foundation, for the wonderful work that he and his
comrades are doing.
{time} 1800
For over two centuries, the compelling contribution of over 5,000
African-American slaves and freedmen who served in the militia or
provided civilian assistance during the Revolutionary War has, for the
most part, gone unnoticed. These soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder
with white soldiers, heroically sacrificing so we could stand here
today, a free people and a world leader.
After years of work on this commemorative coin effort, I am delighted
that this House is now recognizing the courageous contributions of our
black Revolutionary War patriots. Passage of this legislation will send
an emphatic message that we are one nation because people of all races
and ethnic origins were willing to fight for and then build a new
nation of free and equal citizens. If we fail to understand our past,
we cannot assume a future worthy of our visionary ancestors.
This memorial is about cherishing, affirming, and comprehending our
past each day we build our future. I urge my colleagues to support this
unique commemorative coin legislation, and help the Black Patriots
Foundation realize the dream of a memorial to black Revolutionary War
patriots here in Washington, DC.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey, Mr. Donald Payne, chairperson of the Congressional Black
Caucus.
Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, as one who has been involved in
this endeavor from the beginning, I am pleased that our efforts are
coming to fruition today. I want to thank the chairman, the gentleman
from Delaware, Mr. Castle, for moving this important measure through,
and thank the gentleman from New York, Floyd Flake, the ranking member,
for all of his contributions.
Let me express special appreciation to the sponsor of this bill, the
gentlewoman from Connecticut, Ms. Nancy Johnson, who you have just
heard, for all of the hard work she has done on this bill for so many
years. It has been a pleasure working with her through this process.
Our legislation directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 500,000
coins in 1998 recognizing the sacrifices of African American soldiers
in the Revolutionary War. Proceeds from the sale of this coin will help
the construction of the first monument on the National Mall here in
Washington to specifically honor the contributions of the African-
American war patriots.
It is fitting that we pay tribute to the pride and patriotism of
heroes such as Crispus Attucks, as the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Flake], mentioned, a runaway slave who became the first casualty of the
American Revolution. As our country was struggling to become free of
British tyranny, this young runaway slave gave his life during the
Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.
African-American patriots fought in most of the major battles of the
Revolutionary War. They were at Lexington and Concord; they were at the
Battle of Bunker Hill at Trenton, in New Jersey, the battles on Long
Island, at Valley Forge and Yorktown.
It was a black minuteman, as we have heard, Peter Salem, who became
the hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill, when they said, don't shoot
until you see the whites of their eyes, because our armies were low on
ammunition. He took down the British commander. African Americans went
on to serve with distinction in every conflict since that time.
Let me just digress for a minute to say in the War of 1812 and in the
Civil War, with the 54th Regiment that Frederick Douglass convinced
President Lincoln to allow them to fight for their freedom, and it
turned the tide of the Civil War that at that time was at a stalemate.
In the Spanish American War, there were black Americans on the Maine,
and it was the Rough Riders that went into the Battle of San Juan Hill,
where Teddy Roosevelt was at the point of annihilation, but the Rough
Riders were pinned down and the Buffalo Soldiers came and relieved
them.
So as we move on, World War I, Neham Roberts, a man from north New
Jersey and his partner, after several weeks captured 20 Germans as they
were wounded in the foxholes and in the lines, and they brought these
persons in as prisoners of war.
In World War II, Archie Callahan from Norton, NJ, died on December 7
in Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Mr. Speaker, with the passage of today's measure, let us remember
that after that, in Korea, and in Vietnam, in the Persian Gulf war, let
us remember that our nation was born of shared sacrifices, with people
of all backgrounds coming together for a common cause of freedom. The
best way for us to honor the memory of these fallen Revolutionary War
heroes is to promote the same spirit of unity on which this Nation was
founded.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr.Watts].
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1776,
the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Coin Act. I commend
our chairman, the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle], and the ranking
member, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Flake], for moving this
commemorative coin.
This House has noticed an absence and therefore a very real need for
commemoration in honor of people who helped to birth the Nation, people
who actually gave the supreme sacrifice during this Nation's defining
moment.
As Harriett Beecher Stowe wrote about the black men and women who
served in the Revolutionary War,
It was not for their own land they fought, nor even for the
land which had adopted them, but for a land that had enslaved
them and whose laws, even in freedom, more often oppressed
than protected. Bravery under such circumstances has a
peculiar beauty and merit.
The fact is, Mr. Speaker, men and women of all colors have been
involved in every aspect of this country from its founding days. We are
full partners in the history, bloodshed and tears that have made this
Nation great.
Unfortunately, not all of us know our Nation's history, where we came
from and what makes us who we are today. H.R. 1776, the Black
Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Coin Act, renders honor to
those who are exceptionally deserving of lasting historical
recognition, and teaches us vis-a-vis ``history in our hands'' that we
all had a stake in this Nation's founding and that we all are equal
partners.
[[Page H10492]]
H.R. 1776 authorizes the U.S. Mint to strike 500,000 silver dollars
in 1998 commemorating the 275th anniversary of the birth of Crispus
Attucks. Crispus Attucks, a black man, became the first American
casualty of the Revolutionary War when he was killed by British troops
in Boston on March 5, 1770, in an event that would come to be known as
the Boston Massacre.
H.R. 1776, introduces by the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Nancy
Johnson], the gentleman from New Jersey [Donald Payne], and myself
enjoys the support of an overwhelming, bipartisan majority of 318 House
cosponsors. The Senate companion bill enjoys the backing of 63 Senate
cosponsors.
The proceeds from the sale of these commemorative coins will go
toward the construction of the Black Revolutionary War Patriots
Memorial on the National Mall honoring Crispus Attucks and the other
5,000 black men and women who fought for and supported American
independence during the Revolutionary War.
Not only will the commemorative coin teach us all an important aspect
of our Nation's history, but the memorial will continue the legacy of
reminding us that we are truly one Nation and full partners in the
history, bloodshed and tears that have made this Nation great.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas, Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished
gentleman from New York for yielding time to me, and I do appreciate
very much his leadership, along with that of the gentleman from
Delaware [Mr. Castle] for moving this very historic legislation to the
floor of the House.
Let me also thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut,
Mrs. Johnson, the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. J.C. Watts, and also the
chairman of the Black Caucus for their inspiration and leadership on
something that really goes beyond these walls and this Chamber today.
For as we all have come to a point of recognizing that this is a
nation created for all to be considered equal, even as the Declaration
of Independence stated in those early years, we all are created equal,
with certainly inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness, it was well known that those of us of African American
descent were at that time enslaved in this country. How fitting it is
to acknowledge that there were those willing to give the most and the
most costly of sacrifices, their life, to fight for the freedom of this
Nation, which included the freedom of all citizens.
So I am very much in support of the Black Revolutionary War Patriots
Commemorative Coin Act, H.R. 1776, which, as rendered, will allow for
the selling of a coin that would then allow for the constructing of an
appropriate memorial to these great men who offered their lives for
America.
It is interesting, as a young girl studying history in our public
schools in this country, during the era that I was raised there was not
much in giving credence to those African American slaves, who were in
fact very much a part of the American history and the American
structure and the American liberation.
So it is now fitting that I can say to my 11-year-old son, Jason, as
he is entering into the fifth grade, that we now have an opportunity,
along with many other monuments that have come over the last 10 years,
to acknowledge those early patriots who happened to have been slaves,
happened to have been former slaves but of African descent.
It is important to acknowledge all Americans who fought in the
American Revolutionary War, and to recognize that they fought for
democracy, not for party or for creed, not for color, but for freedom.
How gratified we can all be that Crispus Attucks, who was killed in
the Boston Massacre, during one of the first of many confrontations at
the beginning of this country's struggle for independence, finally will
be honored by the passage of this legislation.
How befitting it will be to have schoolchildren traveling from as far
as Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, or the 18th Congressional District in
Houston, TX, from Cleveland, OH, to Jamaica, New York, to Miami, FL, to
be able to come to the Washington Mall, and to be able to see the
acknowledgment of Revolutionary War heroes, black patriots, former
slaves who gave their life for this country.
Let me acknowledge that this was a bipartisan effort, with over 300
cosponsors, of H.R. 1776, and that is why today, September 17, 1996, it
is extremely fitting for us to join together to pay tribute to these
patriots.
I do hope that we in the spirit of this legislation can carry forward
the message that when it comes to freedom and equality and opportunity,
Americans will stand together, Republican, Democratic, Independent
alike, and stand for what is right, and that is to respect those who
gave the most prized measure, and that is their life.
This is fitting as we watch African Americans serve throughout the
Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War of the 1800's,
1860's, and then moving into World War I and World War II, noting the
Tuskegee Airmen, and, of course, the Korean war, Vietnam, in the
Persian Gulf, and now. We must realize that was is no respecter of
color, and freedom must be enjoyed by all of us.
I congratulate the sponsor and cosponsor of this legislation, and
rise to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1776, the Black
Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Coin Act, in order to
construct a long overdue monument to the black Revolutionary War
patriots on the Mall.
I would like to commend and thank Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and
Donald Payne for their leadership in proposing this legislation to
honor some of our Nation's most outstanding revolutionary heroes. As an
original cosponsor of H.R. 1776, I would like to thank the Members from
both sides of the aisle who are cosponsors of this legislation.
Those who fought in the American Revolutionary War did so for the
ideal of democracy--not for party or for creed, nor for color, but for
freedom.
Crispus Attucks, who was killed in the Boston Massacre, during one of
the first of many confrontations at the beginning of this country's
struggle for independence will be honored by the passage of the
legislation.
This bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint $1 silver
coins in commemoration of black Revolutionary War patriots. This
legislation further directs that coin sale surcharges be paid to the
Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation for raising an endowment to
support construction of the Patriots Memorial here in Washington, DC.
With over 300 cosponsors of H.R. 1776, I would like to thank my
fellow colleagues for this strong show of bipartisanship.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would make a closing comment or two.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, of all the bills, three bills we are
handling today, this particular piece of legislation I think had the
greatest struggle in that they were dealing with other sources of
funding; they were dealing with an authorization issue as well as,
obviously, obtaining signatures.
I think all those involved with the Black Revolutionary War Patriots
Foundation, which is the correct full name, deserve to be congratulated
on their perseverance for what I consider to be an extremely good
cause. It was with some degree of pride that we were able to have a
hearing, have them actually come before us and be able to approve this
legislation. We wish them great success.
I hope that anyone who is listening to this will be ready to buy any
or all of these coins. We want them to succeed down the road. But this
one in particular I think is one that took a great deal of work, so I
congratulate all those individuals.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to just say this is a great day when we can
come to the floor and have coins that commemorate Dolley Madison,
George Washington, and the black patriots. I think it speaks well for
our country.
Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1776, the
Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative Coin Act, and to honor
the thousands of African-American patriots who fought in the
Revolutionary War and risked their lives for our freedom.
I am a proud cosponsor of this critical legislation and its
importance cannot be overstated. African-Americans participated in
every phase of the struggle for American independence. Yet far too many
of our children are
[[Page H10493]]
learning the history of the Revolutionary War without knowing the names
and heroics of these outstanding American patriots. Indeed, we must
move forward on this legislation so that no young American will pass
through school without learning that African-Americans were essential
participants in our forefathers' fight for freedom.
There was Crispus Attucks, the first person to die in the Revolution,
who gave his life in the Boston Massacre. There was James Robinson, who
fought in the Revolutionary War as well as in the War of 1812, but was
not granted his freedom until after the Civil War in 1865. There was
James Forten, who was born free in Philadelphia and later became a very
wealthy and powerful businessman, employing more than forty men both
black and white in his sail business. Forten amassed more than $100,000
from his business which he used in his fight for the freedom and
independence of hundreds of African-Americans, during and after the
war.
African-Americans served with Gen. George Washington at Valley Forge
during the winter of 1777-78, and African-Americans were present as the
British were driven out of Yorktown in the waning days of the war. More
than 5,000 African-American patriots in total, their story must be
told.
H.R. 1776 will allow the minting of 500,000 silver one dollar coins
to assist in the effort to build a National monument honoring African-
American Revolutionary War patriots. Fittingly, the Treasury Department
would be able to begin minting the coins in 1998--the 275th anniversary
of the birth of Crispus Attucks under this legislation.
But this legislation is just a start--a building block which will
allow us to finance a glorious monument on the National Mall, dedicated
to the black soldiers of the Revolutionary War. And while this tribute
is long overdue, it will ensure that all Americans will never forsake
the courageous efforts of the African-American soldiers who selflessly
fought for the independence of our Nation, even when their own freedom
as a people was not wholly recognized.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goodlatte). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1776, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title was amended so as to read: A bill to require the Secretary
of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of black Revolutionary
War patriots and the 275th anniversary of the first black Revolutionary
War patriot, Crispus Attucks.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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