[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 23 (Friday, February 27, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Burns, 
        Mr. Chafee, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
        Feingold, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, Mr. 
        Miller, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Pryor, Mr. 
        Reid, Mr. Santorum, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Voinovich, 
        and Mr. Warner):
  S. 2146. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
coins in commemoration of the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr., to the United States; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, every year, Americans commemorate the 
birthday of America's greatest civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Last year I was pleased to introduce legislation to authorize 
the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins to recognize Dr. King's 
contribution to the people of the United States. Revenues from the 
surcharge on the coin would go to the Library of Congress to purchase 
and maintain historical documents and other materials associated with 
the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
  I had hoped that this bill could have been enacted last year on the 
40th anniversary of Dr. King's ``I Have a Dream'' speech, but we were 
unable to do so. Today, I would like to reintroduce the Dr. Martin 
Luther King Jr. Commemorative Coin Act of 2004, to have the coin minted 
in 2009 in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Dr. King's birth. 
Dr. King's significant contributions and his message should live on for 
future generations. America should remember him as a national hero and 
a pioneer.
  In recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy, it is important that 
we continue to learn from his actions and words. When I was a young 
girl in Louisiana, I learned from Dr. King that the struggle for civil 
rights and racial equality was more than simply changing the law, it 
required changing our hearts as well. Dr. King recognized that the 
civil rights movement presented Americans with a choice. We could 
choose hate and fear, or we could choose love and understanding. Dr. 
King believed that when Americans choose love in their hearts, peace 
and equality would follow. Dr. King offered us a peaceful way to reach 
equality through non-violent protest and action. I believe that this 
should continue to be a fundamental moral challenge for our country. In 
his famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech, Dr. King said, ``I have a dream 
that one day, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave 
owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.''
  I would also like to take the time to thank my good friends on both 
sides of the aisle for supporting this important legislation. I urge 
others to join us in remembering the selfless deeds of Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr., by cosponsoring this bill.




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