[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 154 (Friday, November 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13365-S13366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ALLEN (for himself and Mr. Warner):
  S. 2056. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to redesign 
$1 Federal reserve notes so as to incorporate the preamble of the 
Constitution of the United States, a list describing the Articles of 
the Constitution, and a list describing the amendments to the 
Constitution, on the reverse side of such note; to the Committee on 
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a piece of 
legislation that is designed to honor the document allows us to all be 
here today. The document I am referring to is the Constitution of the 
United States of America, the greatest and longest lasting political 
document in the history of the world. Drafted in part by the great 
patriot Thomas Jefferson, this document sets forth both the structure 
of our government and the fundamental freedoms we enjoy every day. 
Ingenious by its simplicity, the Constitution is a living breathing 
document that has allowed our country to evolve from 13 colonies who 
banded together to win her independence from Great Britain to the most 
powerful Nation in the world. While this document has created a strong 
national government that is unrivaled in the world, it has also kept 
the power in the States to decide how to govern themselves. As governor 
of the Commonwealth of Virginia and now as United States Senator I have 
had the unique opportunity to experience how this ingenious system of 
federalism plays out in every action we take as leaders.
  This legislation that I am introducing today will serve to remind all 
Americans of the freedoms embodied in the Constitution. For many of us, 
it has been a long time since we have had the opportunity to sit down 
and actually read this historic document. By placing the headings of 
the articles and the amendments on the back of the dollar bill, all 
people will have the chance to look at the provisions. I sincerely hope 
that when children take a look at the reverse side of a dollar bill, 
they will take the time to ask their parents about what they are 
reading so they can gain a better understanding of our great Nation and 
the principals our country was founded.
  By looking at the order of the amendments to the constitution, 
students can also trace the history of our country. The amendments to 
the constitution embody the four pillars of a free and just society. 
The first of these pillars is freedom of religion, this important 
freedom is protected by the First Amendment which allows all people of 
all religions to freely practice their chosen religion without fear of 
government interference. The second pillar is the freedom of 
expression, which again is protected in the First Amendment. The third 
pillar is the private ownership of property. This important freedom is 
protected by the Fifth Amendment which limits the government's power to 
take private property. This freedom is also protected in the Third. The 
fourth Amendment which protects citizens from being forced to quarter 
solders in their homes and protects private property from unreasonable 
searches and seizures respectively. The fourth pillar is the rule of 
law. Protection of the rule of law runs throughout the Constitution, 
most notably in the Sixth Amendment which guarantees the right to a 
speedy trial and the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments which require due 
process of law.
  Looking at the remaining amendments one can trace the evolution of 
the Constitution and the United States from the Thirteenth Amendment 
prohibiting slavery, to the Fifteenth Amendment providing for the right 
to vote regardless of race, the Nineteenth Amendment granting women the 
right to vote and the Twenty Fourth Amendment prohibiting the poll tax.
  Throughout our history, hundreds of thousands of brave men and women 
have laid down their lives protecting the freedoms granted to us in the 
constitution. Having it been Veterans Day a few days ago, I feel it is 
high time

[[Page S13366]]

that we do all we can to publicize what these freedom are that we hold 
so dearly.
  Before I yield the floor I would like to recognize the contributions 
of one of my constituents, Mr. Randy Wright who teaches at Liberty 
Middle School in Hanover, VA. Mr. Wright brought this idea to my 
attention several years ago and he along with his students over the 
years have been instrumental is providing support for this piece of 
legislation. I therefore urge my colleagues to join me in support this 
legislation.
                                 ______