[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 110 (Monday, September 18, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7672-H7676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND UNITED STATES TERRITORIES CIRCULATING QUARTER 
                           DOLLAR PROGRAM ACT

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5010) to provide for a circulating quarter dollar coin 
program to commemorate the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5010

       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 ``District of Columbia and 
     United States Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. ISSUANCE OF REDESIGNED QUARTER DOLLARS COMMEMORATING 
                   THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND EACH OF THE 
                   TERRITORIES.

       Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection:
       ``(n) Redesign and Issuance of Circulating Quarter Dollar 
     Commemorating the District of Columbia and Each of the 
     Territories.--
       ``(1) Redesign in 2009.--
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the fourth sentence of 
     subsection (d)(1) and subsection (d)(2) and subject to 
     paragraph (6)(B), quarter dollar coins issued during 2009, 
     shall have designs on the reverse side selected in accordance 
     with this subsection which are emblematic of the District of 
     Columbia and the territories.
       ``(B) Flexibility with regard to placement of 
     inscriptions.--Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1), the 
     Secretary may select a design for quarter dollars issued 
     during 2009 in which--
       (i) the inscription described in the second sentence of 
     subsection (d)(1) appears on the reverse side of any such 
     quarter dollars; and
       (ii) any inscription described in the third sentence of 
     subsection (d)(1) or the designation of the value of the coin 
     appears on the obverse side of any such quarter dollars.
       ``(2) Single district or territory design.--The design on 
     the reverse side of each quarter dollar issued during 2009 
     shall be emblematic of 1 of the following: The District of 
     Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
     Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth 
     of the Northern Mariana Islands.
       ``(3) Selection of design.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each of the 6 designs required under 
     this subsection for quarter dollars shall be--
       ``(i) selected by the Secretary after consultation with--

       ``(I) the chief executive of the District of Columbia or 
     the territory being commemorated, or such other officials or 
     group as the chief executive officer of the District of 
     Columbia or the territory may designate for such purpose; and
       ``(II) the Commission of Fine Arts; and

       ``(ii) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
     Committee.
       ``(B) Selection and approval process.--Designs for quarter 
     dollars may be submitted in accordance with the design 
     selection and approval process developed by the Secretary in 
     the sole discretion of the Secretary.
       ``(C) Participation.--The Secretary may include 
     participation by District or territorial officials, artists 
     from the District of Columbia or the territory, engravers of 
     the United States Mint, and members of the general public.
       ``(D) Standards.--Because it is important that the Nation's 
     coinage and currency bear dignified designs of which the 
     citizens of the United States can be proud, the Secretary 
     shall not select any frivolous or inappropriate design for 
     any quarter dollar minted under this subsection.
       ``(E) Prohibition on certain representations.--No head and 
     shoulders portrait or bust of any person, living or dead, and 
     no portrait of a living person may be included in the design 
     of any quarter dollar under this subsection.
       ``(4) Treatment as numismatic items.--For purposes of 
     sections 5134 and 5136, all coins minted under this 
     subsection shall be considered to be numismatic items.
       ``(5) Issuance.--
       ``(A) Quality of coins.--The Secretary may mint and issue 
     such number of quarter dollars of each design selected under 
     paragraph (4) in uncirculated and proof qualities as the 
     Secretary determines to be appropriate.
       ``(B) Silver coins.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), the 
     Secretary may mint and issue such number of quarter dollars 
     of each design selected under paragraph (4) as the Secretary 
     determines to be appropriate, with a content of 90 percent 
     silver and 10 percent copper.
       ``(C) Sources of bullion.--The Secretary shall obtain 
     silver for minting coins under subparagraph (B) from 
     available resources, including stockpiles established under 
     the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
       ``(D) Timing and order of issuance.--Coins minted under 
     this subsection commemorating the District of Columbia and 
     each of the territories shall be issued in equal sequential 
     intervals during 2009 in the following order: the District of 
     Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
     Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth 
     of the Northern Mariana Islands.
       ``(6) Other provisions.--
       ``(A) Application in event of admission as a state.--If the 
     District of Columbia or any territory becomes a State before 
     the end of the 10-year period referred to in subsection 
     (l)(1), subsection (l)(7) shall apply, and this subsection 
     shall not apply, with respect to such State.
       ``(B) Application in event of independence.--If any 
     territory becomes independent or otherwise ceases to be a 
     territory or possession of the United States before quarter 
     dollars bearing designs which are emblematic of such 
     territory are minted pursuant to this subsection, this 
     subsection shall cease to apply with respect to such 
     territory.
       ``(7) Territory defined.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term `territory' means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
     Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and 
     the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) and the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Waters) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus).
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BACHUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, today the House meets to consider a bill 
that builds on the immense popularity of the 50-State quarter program 
that has vast numbers of Americans looking in their pocket every day at 
their change. This is an addition which should be made to the 
legislation. It is overdue, and it recognizes the contributions of the 
District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.
  There are many issues in this country that divide us, but there are 
issues that unite us; and I am happy to arise today in the spirit of 
unity in a bipartisan way to celebrate our diversity, to celebrate the 
territories that are a part of these United States and also the 
District of Columbia. It is appropriate and

[[Page H7673]]

it is fitting that we should add six new quarters to the 50-State 
quarter program. Those will be American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin 
Islands, the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, and the District of 
Columbia. Without further delay, I think it would be appropriate to 
hear from the representatives of the District of Columbia and the 
territories.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
rise in support of this bill. As most of us are aware, our currency has 
shown new faces in recent years. Most recently we saw the introduction 
of the new Sacagawea one-dollar coin which replaces the Susan B. 
Anthony dollar coin. From 1999 to 2008, the country will witness the 
implementation of the 50-State circulating commemorative quarter 
program, which represents the longest running change in currency design 
in recent memory.
  While the obverse of these quarters will continue to feature George 
Washington's profile, the reverse will feature a design honoring five 
States per year. Each State will be honored in the order in which it 
ratified the Constitution or entered the Union.
  The bill we are considering today extends the ongoing circulating 
quarter program to the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories, 
which were not covered by the law that authorized the current program. 
These territories include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Depending on how 
popular the quarter turns out to be in the long term, the Federal 
Government may end up earning $5 billion or more in seigniorage, a 
figure expected to increase with the addition of the District and the 
territories. I am pleased to join the delegates of the District of 
Columbia and the U.S. territories in supporting this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
There are several people which should be recognized as a part of this 
effort, and I think the first one of those should be the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). She and her staff have 
worked tirelessly on this issue, and I would like to particularly 
recognize Jon Bouker for his work, a member of her staff.
  I would also like to salute the delegates of the various territories. 
The gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) is here with us 
today. The gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) is making his way back 
from Guam. That is quite a chore. The gentlewoman from the Virgin 
Islands (Mrs. Christensen) will speak, along with the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
  I would also like to recognize the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. 
Castle). The House may recall that when he first proposed this quarter 
program, there was quite a bit of resistance. Some thought that it 
would be unsuccessful, that it would even be a disaster. That word was 
used. In fact, it has been a great success. Sometime ago, in fact, when 
that legislation was brought up, he made assurances to the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia that at some time the District of 
Columbia would be added. I look forward to hearing from these people 
who played quite a role in bringing this legislation before us today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5010, the District of 
Columbia and U.S. Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act. I 
want to begin by thanking the former chairman, the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr.  Castle), the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), and 
the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), as well as the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. LaFalce) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), 
for their support in getting this bill to the floor so quickly today. 
It is indeed a pleasure for me to be here this afternoon as we move 
closer toward rectifying the omission of the District of Columbia and 
the insular areas from the original 50-State commemorative coin program 
act. It took us nearly 2 years, but with the vote on H.R. 5010 today, 
the United States citizens of the District of Columbia and the 
territories will finally get the opportunity to have our Nation 
commemorate and celebrate a significant event or fact about our 
respective homes.
  This is a great day for all of us because with this bill we will 
finally be able to celebrate, all of America.
  While my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, also known as America's 
Paradise, has many ecological, historical, and cultural treasures which 
are worthy of commemoration, we also boast of having been the place 
where the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, grew up 
and honed the skills which served our then fledgling Nation so well.
  For the benefit of those who might not know this, the Virgin Islands 
have been a member of the American family since 1917, when Denmark sold 
the islands of the former Danish West Indies, St. Thomas, St. Croix and 
St. John, to the United States for just $25 million.
  We are located 1,000 miles southeast of Miami in the Caribbean Sea 
and are four main islands and numerous keys, with beaches that have 
consistently ranked among the best in the world. We also boast the only 
site where members of Christopher Columbus' party are known to have set 
foot on what is today U.S. soil. The Salt River National Historical and 
Ecological Park was established in 1992 to, among other things, 
commemorate this important historical event.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of the Virgin Islands see it as only fitting 
that we along with the residents and citizens of Guam, American Samoa, 
Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia should also get the 
opportunity to educate our fellow Americans at whose side we have 
fought to defend and protect our Nation about our unique qualities as 
well as promote our pride at being Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
because it was her leadership and dogged determination that made this 
day possible.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would also like to recognize the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) 
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) for their work on this 
bill and also the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) for her 
work.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume 
to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this time 
to me and for yielding me his time from the other side of the aisle. It 
was not necessary, but I think it does show the bipartisan spirit in 
which this bill in particular has come to the floor. I also want to 
thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), the chairman of the full 
committee, and the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), his ranking 
member, and I thank the gentlewoman from California, the ranking member 
of the subcommittee for her strong support of this bill and for her 
consistently strong support of the District of Columbia.
  I appreciate especially the initial work of the then chairman of the 
committee, the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), and, of course, 
the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), the current Chair, who has 
worked as tirelessly with us as we have with him to make sure that we 
would get to the day when all American jurisdictions would be included 
in the coin commemoration act under discussion here today.
  When the District and the four insular areas were inadvertently left 
out of the 50-State Commemoration Coin Program Act, we did not see any 
reason to hold everyone else up. We thought that the act should proceed 
so that the 10-year period for incorporating States could go forward 
because we had the assurance of the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. 
Castle) that D.C. and the insular areas would indeed be included. I 
knew he would keep his word. There was never any doubt about that. Not 
only did he move immediately in that direction by joining all of us who 
are delegates as a cosponsor of the bill, but

[[Page H7674]]

 the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) also never lost a beat in 
continuing in that tradition until the work was done.

                              {time}  1530

  In any case, no damage has been done because there is a 10-year 
period according to date of admission to the Union, and, therefore, 
they would not have gotten to us anyway before now.
  We are very pleased that the first 10 States are already on-line, 
some of them joyously touting their coin. We know that the differences 
between the States, the District and the territories was never meant to 
be invidious and never has been in this body; and we have never been so 
treated in this body. We are all Americans, and we appreciate that this 
body has, for the most part, included all of us whenever possible. That 
was always the intent on both sides of the aisle here.
  After all, there are no differences between the insular areas and the 
District of Columbia on the one hand and the States on the other with 
respect to our American citizenship. None of the differences go to 
participation in a coin commemoration program.
  If I may say so, this is a matter of particular pride to the areas 
and to the District. In a real sense, because we are not States, we 
perhaps reach out for ways to indicate our unity with the States. We do 
it in the way we carry the flag, and wave the flag. We do it in our 
service in the Armed Forces where the territories and the District of 
Columbia consistently show membership in the armed service greatly 
disproportionate to their numbers. The District, for example, had more 
residents who served in the Gulf War than 47 States. So it may be that 
this coin act, which may not mean very much to the average citizen, it 
may mean much more to those of us who come from the areas and the 
District of Columbia, because we look for ways to show that we are 
full-blooded Americans in jurisdictions of the United States, not 
colonies or inferior territories. Therefore, we appreciate when this 
body and the Senate afford us that recognition, the maximum permissible 
under law.
  In the past, we have even won the right to vote in the Committee of 
the Whole, although that was withdrawn. D.C. especially longs for all 
the recognition it can get. If you were part of a jurisdiction in the 
United States that was third per capita in Federal income taxes, you 
would look for all the recognition from those who control the United 
States Treasury that you could get, and so this D.C. coin is just 
another way of saying we, too, are Americans.
  We note that on one side of the coin will be the picture of the 
father of our country, and I cannot tell my colleagues what it will 
mean to the people I represent, that the other side, will be some image 
of the District of Columbia. We are already talking about what it 
should be. We are going to hold a competition to see what it should be. 
There is going to be enormous excitement when we get to that day.
  We know that day is not going to be there for a few years now, but 
the excitement is bubbling up in the District already. We appreciate 
that there has been no controversy whatsoever about our participation 
in the coin program. Indeed, we know that in this case the more the 
merrier because it means more money to the U.S. Treasury.
  We note with particular joy that this program has already brought 
$1.8 billion into the United States Treasury.
  We mean to be a part of filling the coffers of the Treasury along 
with the 50 States and the other areas.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) very 
much for yielding me the time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I do not 
especially recognize and compliment my good friend from Alabama (Mr. 
Bachus) for not only his management of the legislation on the floor, 
but for his outstanding leadership as chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Domestic and International Monetary Policy that provides jurisdiction 
for this kind of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I do want to thank the gentleman for his assistance and 
for his tireless efforts to bring this legislation down to the floor. I 
would like to also compliment and thank my good friend, the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), and her outstanding 
leadership and her tireless efforts for the past couple of years in 
bringing this to the attention, not only to the attention of our 
colleagues, but also especially the merits of this legislation and why 
we are here now today.
  Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank the gentleman from Delaware 
(Mr. Castle) for his outstanding assistance in garnering support from 
both sides of the aisle in seeing that this legislation is taking 
corrective action of what was done previously; and, of course, I want 
to thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) 
representing our side of the aisle, in bringing this legislation now to 
the attention of the Members.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support strongly of H.R. 5010, a bill to 
amend the Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act to include the 
District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.
  Before proceeding, I would like to echo the sentiments expressed by 
my good friend, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, (Ms. 
Norton). I wished that her pleadings for all of these years would not 
be taken as a political issue but to do only that which is right. Mr. 
Speaker, 600,000 U.S. citizens paying income taxes, and they have no 
representation here in the halls of the Congress.
  I think there is tremendous contradiction to the whole principle of 
democracy and what representation is. As an example, taxation without 
representation is what she represents today. I wish my colleagues would 
not look upon her as a Democrat or a Republican, but as a 
representative of 600,000 income tax-paying citizens of our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I recall years ago when the question of the territories 
of Alaska and Hawaii were brought to the attention of the Members, and 
there was concern whether we were going to have two Democratic 
Senators' or two Republican Senators' representation on political 
issues but not on the principle. They thought that Hawaii was going to 
be a Republican State; that is not the case today. They thought that 
Alaska was going to be a Democratic State; it is not the case.
  The point here is that representation truly ought to be brought for 
full consideration of this Chamber, and I sincerely hope and I fully 
support the contention and the efforts made by my good friend, the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). The District of 
Columbia definitely needs representation, and that is all they are 
asking for, and we ought to do that which is right.
  Mr. Speaker, it comes as no surprise that I am a strong supporter of 
this bill. It would add six additional jurisdictions to the 
Commemorative Coin Program Act by extending the program an additional 
year.
  Mr. Speaker, in the 105th Congress, when we passed the Commemorative 
Coin Program Act, the insular areas and the District of Columbia were 
omitted from the legislation.
  Current law authorizes the minting of 25-cent coins to commemorate 
each of the 50 States through state-specific designs on one side of the 
coins. It is a 10-year program with five States being honored each 
year.
  This bill amends current law by adding an 11th and part of the 12th 
year to the program. During this period, the District of Columbia and 
the five insular areas would also be recognized through the minting of 
25-cent coins. Commemorative designs on one side of the coins will be 
selected by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the 
chief executives of these areas.
  This legislation is very timely, Mr. Speaker; and I would also like 
to note that my district this year celebrated its 100th year of its 
most unique political relationship with the United States, and many 
Americans are not aware of this. It certainly would be a special honor 
to see this legislation enacted into this year.
  American Samoa has had a long and proud history of supporting the 
United States ever since the traditional leaders of the main island of 
Tutuila ceded

[[Page H7675]]

their island to the United States on April 17, 1900, and then his 
Majesty King Tuimanua of the Manua Islands ceded his islands in July 
1904. Tutuila's beautiful harbor is the deepest in the South Pacific 
and the Harbor of Pago Pago was used as a coaling station for United 
States Naval ships in the early part of the century; and it was a major 
staging area for some 30,000 Marines during World War II, as it was 
part of our military strategy of troop movements to Micronesia to the 
Solomon Islands and Guadalcanal and other areas of the Pacific. To this 
day American Samoa serves as an important refueling station for U.S. 
ships as well as military aircrafts.
  Mr. Speaker, American Samoa has many of its sons and daughters who 
serve in all branches of the Armed Forces, and they serve very proudly. 
Congress has recognized American Samoa's proud heritage on numerous 
occasions and many of my constituents have served honorably in special 
recognition especially of this Union for 100 years now.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe it is only fitting to acknowledge the 
centennial anniversary of our relationship with the United States in 
this commemorative coin. I ask my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the delegate, the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton), and also the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) both mentioned, I think, a very important point, one that 
I learned when I served in the U.S. Army, and that was the fact that 
our citizens in Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, Guam, they all serve 
in the military. They are very capable soldiers. As the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia said, more served in the Gulf War from 
the District of Columbia than 47 States.
  I can tell my colleagues from my personal experience that anyone who 
served in the military knows that they will meet a lot of residents or 
citizens of Puerto Rico or Guam or American Samoa.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. BACHUS. I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I know that two of our colleagues are 
absent because of the tremendous distance, our resident commissioner 
from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo) and the delegate from Guam (Mr. 
Underwood) would have been more than happy to participate in our 
deliberations this afternoon.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to note their absence, but I know they 
would have been more than happy to participate, but cannot because of 
the long distances that we have to travel coming in between. I want to 
thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) for noting the service 
that those of us who come from the insular areas and our good friend, 
the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, we serve in the armed 
forces just as well, we bleed.
  I think it is time also that sometimes our friends from the 50 States 
of our Union could give us the proper recognition. After all, we can 
always print money, but we can never print that life when it comes back 
in a body bag. I know my good friend, the gentleman from Alabama, he 
and I served in the Army together. We know what that means. And I think 
this is what America is all about.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia, for recognizing the service of our insular areas.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thought when I yielded 
to the gentleman, he might also want to mention something about pro 
football, but I will yield a few more seconds in case he might want to 
mention that.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to. We have 16 
Samoans that currently play in the NFL out of a humble population maybe 
out of 200,000 nationwide. That means for every 12,000 Samoans living 
here in the United States, we produce one NFL player, Mr. Speaker. 
Maybe we need to have a couple more Samoans.
  Mr. BACHUS. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I think that illustrates 
a very important point, and that is that when our school children 
collect that coin from American Samoa, they are going to find out that 
more pro football players per 10,000 people by far come from American 
Samoa than from any other States or territories. They are going to 
learn some other beautiful things.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would yield further, 
now that we are on the subject of professional football, I hope it is 
not just to be playing in the NFL, but I am sure that our people from 
the insular areas, from Puerto Rico, that we would also like to see our 
sons and daughters in medicine, law, engineering and in business, all 
different walks of life. I realize that sometimes when they see Samoans 
they have a very different stereotyping of my people. They think that 
we are mean, that we are violent, but we are really very nice people, 
as long as you do not provoke us.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, when they get that quarter, they are going 
to learn all of those wonderful things.
  Mr. Speaker, I again want to say that when the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr. Castle) proposed this, he really precipitated our school 
children doing something that a lot of teachers and a lot of parents 
were not able to do, and, that is, have our school children learn not 
only the 50 States but now with the addition of the year 2009, the six 
additional quarters, they will learn the locations, and they will learn 
something about the States, the District of Columbia, and the 
territories.

                              {time}  1545

  I think there are school children out there that are eagerly awaiting 
these quarters. I also want to say this, and here is some more good 
news about this, the taxpayers of the United States are currently 
profiting by $200 million per every quarter issued. So the net effect 
of this on the Treasury, using today's estimate, will be a net gain of 
$1.2 billion by including these additional coins.
  Now that was not the reason for it, but it just means that as is oft, 
we find that good acts sometimes have their own rewards that we do not 
know about. This will be an additional benefit to the people of the 
United States.
  Finally, I want to say that in conclusion that Mr. Murkowski from 
Alaska, and I think someone said about Hawaii but Alaska, one of the 
last territories to be admitted to the United States, he has introduced 
this bill in the Senate and he has high hopes for quick passage of the 
Senate bill once the House bill is passed, which we anticipate will 
happen today.
  So I would like to close by simply urging the House to unanimously 
approve this. The Committee on Banking and Financial Services and 
Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy approved 
this unanimously. We strongly feel that this action ought to be taken; 
that it is one that does unite our country, pulls us together, gives us 
common identity, very worthwhile legislation; and we hope that the 
Senate will follow suit very quickly.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
as I close out this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to give thanks to the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Bachus) for his leadership on this issue. I must say that 
whether it is this issue or debt relief, I have found my colleague to 
be extremely fair in using the power of his chairmanship to make sure 
that he gives equal opportunity to all of our colleagues with their 
issues.
  I am very pleased and proud that we have such a great working 
relationship and that he indeed has been more than fair, not only on 
this issue but on many other issues. Let me just say to the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and to the representatives 
of the other territories who have spoken today and those who are not 
here, I am so very pleased that this particular legislation gives them 
the opportunity not only to support the 50 States circulating 
commemorative quarter program and to make sure that the District and 
the territories are included, but it gives an opportunity to speak to 
the unfairness of a lack of the ability to vote on important issues 
facing this Nation and its territories and the District, and I am very 
pleased that the gentleman has had an opportunity here today to remind 
us one more time that there is

[[Page H7676]]

much unfinished work to be done as we try and deal with the question of 
the District of Columbia and the territories.
  I have been working on voting rights for the District for many, many 
years, long before I left the California State assembly where at one 
time I think working with Walter Washington and some others and 
Fauntroy, we were talking about a constitutional amendment, I believe 
at that time. I think these representatives are so focused and many of 
us are so focused on these issues because there are important issues 
here that cannot be swept under the rug. We were all raised and 
socialized and educated on the idea that this country began with the 
belief that there should be no taxation without representation. That is 
drummed into our heads early on in learning of the history of this 
Nation. So we believe that. We believe very strongly that there should 
be no taxation without representation, and so, again, while this is 
about a coin and while this is about making sure that we include the 
District and territories that were left out of the original 
legislation, this also, too, is about the whole very, very basic tenet 
that there should be no taxation without representation.
  We use this time today to add our voices one more time to asking that 
the right thing be done, not only with this coin but with voting rights 
and full participation by the District and the territories.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I want to reiterate the contributions that 
the District of Columbia and our territories make each day, not only to 
the defense of our country but the professionals that they supply, the 
men and women that work daily. They are an integral part of our 
country, and it is time that we pass this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I do want to say that the gentleman from Guam (Mr. 
Underwood) gave an excellent statement to the full committee and those 
remarks will be in the Record. We found out late Friday that this was 
going to be on the docket for today. Unlike some of us in the 
Continental United States, it takes 2 or 3 days, sometimes travel 
arrangements, to be here and it was just too late. That is unfortunate 
that that happened but those representatives simply could not get back 
here quick enough, but they will be given every opportunity and will be 
making statements about this legislation.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer a few remarks about 
this bill.
  As the author of the original 50 State quarter legislation in 1996, I 
have taken a keen interest in the administration and potential 
expansion of the 50 State quarter program.
  I am proud to support the expansion of the quarter program to the 
District of Columbia and the U.S. Territories. I think this bill can 
best be understood in the context of the legislative history of the 
original 50 State quarter program.
  When I first proposed the 50 State quarter legislation, I was met 
with a lot of resistance from the administration, which had serious 
misgivings about how the program would be received by the public. They 
wanted to downgrade the bill to a study.
  Fortunately, it has been a huge success. All one has to do is turn on 
the television to see dozens of ads selling State quarters and fancy 
maps to display them. In fact, our biggest problem with the program is 
that people cannot get their hands on the quarters fast enough. That 
will continue to be an issue that I will press with the mint and the 
Federal Reserve.
  Because there had been so much concern in the Administration about 
whether or not the quarter program would be well received, Congress 
limited it to the 50 States.
  Now, I think even the most skeptical observers would agree that the 
program should be extended to the District of Columbia and the U.S. 
Territories without hesitation or delay. This is not a two-bit piece of 
legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of this legislation today.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, as a co-sponsor of H.R. 5010, the 
``District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating 
Quarter Dollar Program Act,'' I rise in support of this very important 
legislation. Although separate from the program initiated in 1997 by 
the 50 States Commemorative Coin Program Act, H.R. 5010 will no doubt 
create the same interest and enjoy the same success as its predecessor.
  It was hoped that Commemorative Coin Program will lead the American 
public to become more aware of the rich history of U.S. coinage, which 
dates all the way back to the 1790's; that the various designs will 
generate a collective pride among Americans--not only their home 
States--but also the United States in general; and that the 50 States 
Commemorative Coin Program will reflect similar values which exist in 
each of our 50 States while also celebrating our Nation's diversity.
  This objective has partly been met. In addition to serious 
collectors, U.S. mint surveys indicate that about 15 million kids are 
collecting the commemorative quarters and, at the same time, learning 
about their country's history and heritage. Commemorative quarters have 
outsold Pokemon cards a hundred times over.
  Unfortunately, by excluding the District of Columbia and the 
Territories in the 1997 coin program, we have shortchanged the American 
public and missed out on an opportunity to present a more accurate 
reflection of the history and diversity of this great nation. By the 
same token, many residents of the District, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands have considered non-inclusion in the commemorative 
quarter program as the latest manifestation of disregard towards our 
membership and contributions to this country. If the Commemorative 
Quarter Program truly intends to celebrate this Nation's diversity, 
such an oversight is inexcusable.
  I represent the island of Guam. In 1994, we commemorated the fiftieth 
anniversary of Guam's liberation after three years of occupation by the 
Japanese during World War II. We hold the distinction of being the only 
civilian American community to suffer occupation during that war. In 
1998, we marked the hundred-year anniversary of the commencement of our 
relationship with the United States which resulted from the Spanish-
American War. Last August, we commemorated the fifty-year anniversary 
of the enactment of the Organic Act of Guam which granted civil 
government and U.S. citizenship to the people of Guam. Together with 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, we are the 
westernmost territories of the United States. Guam is ``where America's 
day begins.'' These are some interesting points that we on Guam want to 
share with the American public and these are some of the points that 
will be conveyed to the American public if the commemorative quarter 
program is extended to the Territories and the District.
  H.R. 5010, the ``District of Columbia and United States Territories 
Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act,'' will enable the District and 
the Territories to share in the pride brought about by commemorative 
quarters to the fifty states. It would serve the American public to be 
acquainted with the diversity and culture that defines the Territories 
and the District. More importantly, having commemorative quarters 
issued in honor of the District and the Territories, will go a long way 
towards recognizing areas of this nation that most citizens of the 
fifty states oftentimes overlook. Passage of this legislation will 
ensure the Commemorative coin program will finally cover all Americans 
and all areas where the U.S. flag flies. Seeing a latte stone or tapa 
cloth on the other side of a coin with George Washington's portrait 
will be a great testimony to this country's diversity. Who knows, a 
full examination of representative democracy for all these areas under 
the American flag could follow this effort to include the Territories 
and the District. This legislation is significant, important and 
necessary. It is worth much--much more than two-bits.
  Again, I would like to thank my colleagues who have supported H.R. 
5010, the ``District of Columbia and United States Territories 
Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act,'' and urge its expeditious 
passage and enactment.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5010, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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