[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14922-S14923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        MINTING OF COINS IN CONJUNCTION WITH REPUBLIC OF ICELAND

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of H.R. 3373, which is at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 3373) to require the Secretary of the Treasury 
     to mint coins in conjunction with the minting of coins by the 
     Republic of Iceland in commemoration of the millenium of the 
     discovery of the new world by Leif Ericson.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 
3373, the Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Coin Act. This bill 
authorizes three separate commemorative coin programs which will 
commemorate the following historic events: the millennial anniversary 
of Leif Ericson's discovery of the New World, the bicentennial of the 
Lewis and Clark expedition, and the bicentennial of the first meeting 
of the United States Congress in the Capitol building after moving to 
Washington, D.C.
  Companion bills for each of the three coin programs included in H.R. 
3373 have also been introduced separately in the Senate. All three of 
the free-standing bills, S.1710, S. 1187, and S. 1468, have satisfied 
the rules of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs on commemorative coin legislation, including having obtained a 
minimum of sixty-seven Senate cosponsors. The effort to combine the 
three bills and pass them as one coin package has been worked out by 
the House and Senate Banking Committees, and this bill was subsequently 
introduced and passed by the House of Representatives.
  Mr. President, this legislation has the support of the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs as it fully meets the standards set 
forth by the committee and furthermore, each bill adheres to the 
commemorative coin reforms enacted in the 104th Congress. Those reforms 
were necessary to keeping the time-honored pasttime of coin collecting 
from becoming overrun with far too many coin programs commemorating 
events or figures of lesser national recognition. I look forward to 
swift enactment of this legislation.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to support H.R. 3373, 
providing for the minting of a Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative 
dollar coin. This bipartisan legislation would authorize the U.S. Mint 
to issue a coin jointly with the Icelandic National Bank in 
commemoration of Leif Ericson and his voyage and exploration of North 
America. The part of the measure concerning Leif Ericson is identical 
to S. 1710 that Senator Grams and I introduced which has the support of 
74 Senators. The House bill was introduced by Congressman Jim Leach of 
my home state of Iowa who has worked hard toward the passage of this 
measure. I want to commend him for his good work.
  The famous Viking explorer is regarded as the first European to set 
foot on North American soil in the year 1000 AD. In a time of sea 
voyages and land exploration, perhaps the most recognized Viking in 
history is Leif Ericson. Ericson's determination, nobility and spirit 
of exploration are demonstrated in his Voyage of Discovery. Next year 
marks the 1000th anniversary of Leif Ericson's Voyage of Discovery and 
this coin will commemorate this landmark event in North American 
history.
  Leif Ericson, son of Eric the Red, was born in Iceland in the mid 
900's AD. There he learned about reading and writing runes, the Celtic 
and Russian tongue and the ways of trade. Ericson was also taught the 
old sagas, plant studies and the use of weapons. As a young boy, 
Ericson and his friends would spend time watching ships coming in and 
out of the harbor and dream about someday going on voyage of their own. 
Ericson grew to be a large and imposing man, one known for his far 
judgment and honesty. Having his father's adventurous hand, Ericson had 
a strong urge to travel and explore.
  Ericson was able to do some traveling between Iceland and Greenland, 
but his major Voyage of Discovery did not occur until 1000 AD, when 
explorer Bjarni Herjolfsson relayed exciting news of a new land that he 
had seen when he lost his course in the fog. Ericson bought 
Herjolfsson's ship, gathered a crew of 35, and sailed westward. Unlike 
today, Ericson's voyages on the sea were without many modern 
conveniences. He did not travel by a motor-powered ship, nor have any 
of today's advanced technological navigational tools. Instead, Ericson 
and his small crew used the wind and tides as their primary source of 
motive power, relying on the weather as the engine for his vessel. His 
Viking ship did not do too well against hard winds with their single 
sails, but fortunately, fair weather allowed Ericson to navigate 600 
miles west up the western coast. Soon he was following the outlines of 
the new lands he had heard of.
  The first island Ericson landed on was among glaciers and seemed to 
be one huge slab of rock. Because of this he named it Helluland (Slab 
Land or Flat Rock Land), which is now believed to be Baffin Island. 
Ericson then sailed south and found another land that was flat with 
white beaches and some trees. He named this land Markland (Woodland) 
which today is believed to be Labrador on the eastern coast of Canada.
  Finally, Ericson sailed southeast for two days and came to an island 
with a mainland. On this land the Viking explorer and his crew came 
upon an abundance of grapes as well as vegetation. they had never seen 
before. They also were astounded by the size of fish and other animal 
life they saw while exploring this land. Ericson and his crew settled 
in for the winter, but the winter here was very peculiar. No frost came 
to the grasses. They also noticed that the days and nights were of more 
equal length here. When spring came and the men were ready to go, 
Ericson gave this land the name Vinland, which either means Wineland or 
Pastureland. Vinland is believed to be today's L'Anse aux Meadows in 
Newfoundland and archaeological findings of this winter camp seem to 
confirm this belief.

  Ericson's Voyage of Discovery is a significant event in North 
American history and symbolizes a long relationship between the U.S. 
and Iceland. The Government of Iceland is an important North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) ally and this action would reiterate our 
strong relationship with and support for their nation. Iceland votes 
with the United States on virtually all United Nations and NATO issues 
and has formulated foreign policies parallel to ours. They also are 
cutting costs at our military base in Keflavi. Iceland has refrained 
from whaling, encouraged more U.S. trade and investment and initiated a 
partnership with the state

[[Page S14923]]

of Alaska. The Government of Iceland has already approved a silver 1000 
Kroner Icelandic coin to be produced by the U.S. Mint that will be 
packaged and issued simultaneously with the U.S. Leif Ericson 
Commemorative Coin. We believe jointly issuing these coins will help 
further relations between our nations.
  The United States Congress strengthened U.S.-Icelandic relations in 
1930 by presenting a statue of Leif Ericson as a gift to Iceland 
memorializing Ericson's Voyage of Discovery. In 1964, President Lyndon 
B. Johnson made October 9 ``Leif Ericson Day'' in commemoration of the 
famous Viking explorer. The Leif Ericson Commemorative Coin in the year 
2000 would commemorate the millennial anniversary of Ericson's voyage 
and would display our commitment to continuing this relationship for 
the coming millennium.
  H.R. 3373 allows a simultaneous issuance of a commemorative U.S. 
silver dollar coin and a silver 1000 Kroner Icelandic coin. Both coins 
are to be produced in limited mintages, with U.S. Mint issuing a boxed 
set. Mint and surcharge proceeds from the coins will fund scholarships 
and student exchange programs between Iceland and United States. The 
U.S. Mint has read and approved the identical House version as meeting 
all the guidelines contained in the 1995 Congressional House Banking 
Committee Commemorative Coin Reforms Act, which protects the taxpayer 
from any costs. We feel such a coin is an important step in recognizing 
the important role Iceland has played in North American history. H.R. 
3373 also provides for a Lewis and Clark Expedition Commemorative Coin 
which I strongly support and a Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative 
Coin.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statement relating to the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 3373) was read the third time and passed.

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