[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H403-H407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  LOUIS BRAILLE BICENTENNIAL--BRAILLE LITERACY COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2872) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in 
commemoration of Louis Braille, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2872

       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 ``Louis Braille Bicentennial--
     Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Louis Braille, who invented the Braille method for 
     reading and writing by the blind that has allowed millions of 
     blind people to be literate participants in their societies, 
     was born in Coupvray, a small village near Paris, on January 
     4, 1809.
       (2) Braille lost his sight at the age of three after 
     injuring himself with an awl in the shop of his father Rene, 
     a maker of harnesses and other objects of leather.
       (3) A youth who was both intelligent and creative and was 
     blessed with dedicated parents, a thoughtful local priest and 
     an energetic local schoolteacher, Braille adapted to the 
     situation and attended local school with other youths of his 
     age, an unheard-of practice for a blind child of the period.
       (4) At the age of 10, when his schooling otherwise would 
     have stopped, Braille--with the aid of the priest and 
     schoolteacher--was

[[Page H404]]

     given a scholarship by a local nobleman and went to Paris to 
     attend the Royal Institute for Blind Children where he became 
     the youngest pupil.
       (5) At the school, most instruction was oral but Braille 
     found there were books for the blind--large, expensive-to-
     produce books in which the text was of large letters embossed 
     upon the page.
       (6) Soon Braille had read all 14 books in the school, but 
     thirsted for more.
       (7) A captain in Napoleon's army, Charles Barbier de la 
     Serre, had invented ``night writing'', a method for 
     communicating on the battlefield amidst the thick smoke of 
     combat or at night without lighting a match--which would aid 
     enemy gunners--that used dots and dashes that were felt and 
     interpreted with the fingers, and later adapted the method 
     for use by the blind, calling it Sonography because it 
     represented words by sounds, rather than spelling.
       (8) Braille adopted the Sonography method instantly but 
     soon recognized that the basis in sound and the large number 
     of dots--as many as 12--used to represent words was too 
     cumbersome.
       (9) By the age of 15, and using a blunt awl, the same sort 
     of tool that had blinded him, Braille had developed what is 
     essentially modern Braille, a code that uses no more than 6 
     dots in a ``cell'' of 2 columns of 3 dots each to represent 
     each letter and contains a system of punctuation and of 
     ``contractions'' to speed writing and reading.
       (10) In contrast to the bulky books consisting of large 
     embossed letters, Braille books can contain as many as 1000 
     characters or contractions on a standard 11-by-12-inch page 
     of heavy paper, and to this day Braille can be punched with 
     an awl-like ``stylus'' into paper held in a metal ``slate'' 
     that is very similar to the ones that Louis Braille adapted 
     from Barbier's original ``night writing'' devices.
       (11) Also a talented organist who supported himself by 
     giving concerts, Braille went on to develop the Braille 
     representation of music and in 1829 published the first-ever 
     Braille book, a manual about how to read and write music.
       (12) 8 years later, in 1837, Braille followed that 
     publication with another book detailing a system of 
     representation of mathematics.
       (13) Braille's talents were quickly recognized, and at 17 
     he was made the first blind apprentice teacher at the school, 
     where he taught algebra, grammar, music, and geography.
       (14) He and two blind classmates, his friends who probably 
     were the first people to learn to read and write Braille, 
     later became the first three blind full professors at the 
     school.
       (15) However, despite the fact that many blind people 
     enthusiastically adopted the system of writing and reading, 
     there was great skepticism among sighted people about the 
     real usefulness of Braille's code, and even at the Royal 
     Institute, it was not taught until after his death on January 
     6, 1852.
       (16) Braille did not start to spread widely until 1868 when 
     a group of British men--later to become known as the Royal 
     National Institute for the Blind--began publicizing and 
     teaching the system.
       (17) Braille did not become the official and sole method of 
     reading and writing for blind United States citizens until 
     the 20th Century.
       (18) Helen Keller, a Braille reader of another generation, 
     said: ``Braille has been a most precious aid to me in many 
     ways. It made my going to college possible--it was the only 
     method by which I could take notes on lectures. All my 
     examination papers were copied for me in this system. I use 
     Braille as a spider uses its web--to catch thoughts that flit 
     across my mind for speeches, messages and manuscripts.''.
       (19) While rapid technological advances in the 20th Century 
     have greatly aided the blind in many ways by speeding access 
     to information, each advance has seen a commensurate drop in 
     the teaching of Braille, to the point that only about 10 
     percent of blind students today are taught the system.
       (20) However, for the blind not to know Braille is in 
     itself a handicap, because literacy is the ability to read 
     and the ability to write and the ability to do the two 
     interactively.
       (21) The National Federation of the Blind, the Nation's 
     oldest membership organization consisting of blind members, 
     has been a champion of the Braille code, of Braille literacy 
     for all blind people and of the memory of Louis Braille, and 
     continues its Braille literacy efforts today through its 
     divisions emphasizing Braille literacy, emphasizing education 
     of blind children and emphasizing employment of the blind.
       (22) Braille literacy aids the blind in taking responsible 
     and self-sufficient roles in society, such as employment: 
     while 70 percent of the blind are unemployed, 85 percent of 
     the employed blind are Braille-literate.

     SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter 
     in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall mint and 
     issue not more than 400,000 $1 coins bearing the designs 
     specified in section 4(a), 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 5134 of 
     title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act 
     shall be considered to be numismatic items.

     SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.

       (a) Design Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be emblematic of the life and legacy of Louis 
     Braille.
       (2) Obverse.--The design on the obverse shall bear a 
     representation of the image of Louis Braille.
       (3) Reverse.--The design on the reverse shall emphasize 
     Braille literacy and shall specifically include the word for 
     Braille in Braille code (the Braille capital sign and the 
     letters Brl) represented in a way that substantially complies 
     with section 3 of Specification 800 of the National Library 
     Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the 
     Library of Congress specifications for Braille, and is 
     tactilely indiscernible from printed or written Braille.
       (4) 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 ``2009''; 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 
     Commission of Fine Arts and the National Federation of the 
     Blind; and
       (2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage 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) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins 
     minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning 
     on January 1, 2009.

     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 section 7(a) 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.

     SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.

       (a) Surcharge Required.--All sales of coins under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin.
       (b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, 
     United States Code, all surcharges which are received by the 
     Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall 
     be promptly paid by the Secretary to the the National 
     Federation of the Blind to further its programs to promote 
     Braille literacy.
       (c) Audits.--The National Federation of the Blind shall be 
     subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of 
     title 31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts 
     received by the National Federation under subsection (b).
       (d) Limitation.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), no 
     surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under 
     this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the 
     time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result 
     in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during 
     such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program 
     issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, 
     United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment 
     of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue 
     guidance to carry out this subsection.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2872, a bill designed to 
advance a nationwide Bsraille literacy campaign by honoring Louis 
Braille with a commemorative coin to be issued in 2009, the 
bicentennial year of his birth.
  Louis Braille created the code of raised dots for reading and writing 
that bears his name and brings literacy, independence, and productivity 
to the blind.
  Born in 1809, Louis Braille became blind due to an accident in his 
father's

[[Page H405]]

workshop. By believing in the capacity of the blind to learn, Braille 
demonstrated an understanding of blindness that was extraordinarily 
enlightened and positive for the times in which he lived.
  Blind people today would be far less likely to achieve the goals of 
independence and productive living without the positive contributions 
Louis Braille made and the example he set throughout his life. Today, 
blind members of society are teachers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, 
mathematicians and much, much more because of Louis Braille.
  A means of achieving literacy is vital for everyone, including, of 
course, people who are blind. Therefore, effective use of Braille is 
one of the most essential skills for blind people to achieve success. 
Research shows that more than 90 percent of employed persons who are 
blind use Braille.
  Effective use of Braille is as important to the blind as independent 
mobility, knowledge in the use of adaptive technology, and the core 
belief that equality, opportunity and security are truly possible for 
all people who are blind.
  The Louis Braille Commemorative Coin will feature representation of 
the image of Louis Braille on one side and will include the word for 
Braille in actual Braille code on the other side. The inclusion of 
Braille code on the commemorative coin is a significant and historic 
aspect of this bill.
  In addition, all sales of the Braille Commemorative Coin will include 
a surcharge of $10 per coin, which will be distributed to the National 
Federation of the Blind to promote Braille literacy. As a condition of 
receiving the proceeds from this surcharge, the National Federation of 
the Blind will be subject to annual audits to ensure that these 
proceeds, of course, are being spent for the authorized purpose and 
will be required to raise matching funds from private sources.

                              {time}  1530

  If all the coins authorized under this bill are sold, the surcharges 
could generate up to $4 million plus the matching $4 million that the 
National Federation of the Blind would be required to raise privately. 
That is potentially $8 million to promote Braille literacy for all 
people in the country who are in need of Braille literacy. The Nation's 
blind would greatly benefit by this investment in Braille literacy.
  The National Federation of the Blind has committed to raising their 
share of these funds and promoting Braille literacy with the proceeds. 
Based on our work with the NFB in the past, I know they are up to this 
task. I worked very closely with the NFB on the Help America Vote Act, 
Mr. Hoyer and I both did, and Senators Dodd and Bond and McConnell in 
the Senate, in order to ensure that voting booths were equipped to 
allow the blind to vote independently without outside assistance. Their 
grass-roots advocacy and unyielding support on that bill helped that 
dream become a reality for the Nation's blind.
  Again, with this bill, the National Federation of the Blind put their 
grass-roots network into action to build overwhelming support for this 
commemorative coin. I'm confident this same grass-roots network will 
raise the matching funds required and effectively promote Braille 
literacy on a nationwide basis with the proceeds from this coin's 
surcharge.
  The National Federation of the Blind currently fosters Braille 
literacy in a number of ways: from mentoring programs, in which 
experienced Braille readers as volunteers teach and encourage novices, 
to publishing instructions for schoolchildren, to research in effective 
methods of teaching and learning Braille, to one-on-one Braille 
instruction in residential training centers. Literacy in Braille is 
emphasized throughout its programs and services as an essential tool 
for blind persons to participate successfully in modern society.
  The Federation emphatically links competence in the basic skills of 
blindness, like Braille, to its broader understanding of blindness, a 
condition feared above most others by society. When blindness occurs, 
the federation seeks, through its nationwide membership, to reach 
individuals, children, or adults who experience sight loss to convey 
the message that while blindness is not sought by anyone, obviously, 
everyone can successfully handle lack of sight with proper training and 
alternative skills, combined with a can-do attitude.
  But even with that effort, only about 10 percent of blind children 
are taught Braille. Issuance of the Louis Braille commemorative coin 
can aid that effort, forming a springboard for a nationwide Braille 
literacy campaign drawing all these strands together and focusing the 
joint energy of thousands of volunteers powered by a big idea, 
resulting in high-profile attention to the literacy crisis amongst the 
blind while helping this broad volunteer corps to attract social 
attention to the positive thrust of the federation.
  The story of Braille as a literacy tool and the story of the 
federation in emphasizing participation are parallel. Given the proper 
tools, we humans can overcome apparently insurmountable obstacles and 
achieve great things. Louis Braille, the man, did so. Hundreds of 
thousands of blind Americans do so every day. Hundreds of thousands of 
blind Americans could do so much more if they had the tool of literacy 
easily at hand and the can-do attitude to accompany it.
  Honoring Louis Braille and promoting literacy for the blind will have 
lasting value for our society.
  I want to thank Congressman Ben Cardin for his cosponsorship of this 
important bill, and I want to thank over 300-some of our colleagues who 
have actually signed on to the bill, and I appreciate the gentleman 
from Massachusetts being here today on this bill and all the input and 
work he has done on it.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to create the Louis 
Braille commemorative coin and help advance Braille literacy 
nationwide.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume, and I agree with the words of the gentleman from Ohio.
  First of all, let me express the regrets of our colleague from 
Maryland (Mr. Cardin) who was a major sponsor of this bill and who, I 
think, is the Representative of the National Federation of the Blind. 
He very much wanted to be here. He had a previous engagement, and he 
stayed here until the very last minute. I know he has a statement for 
the Record, but I did want to convey to people his having made an 
extraordinary effort to be here personally.
  As I said, I agree with what the gentleman from Ohio said. I will say 
that I had inquired as to whether or not there might be some 
alternative financing arrangement. I appreciate this is a first-rate 
organization that makes enormous contributions. There are some other 
organizations that work in the field as well. But it was not possible 
to work anything out, and I did not want to stand in the way of this 
very important legislation, both in terms of commemorating Louis 
Braille and in terms of making the funding available.
  So I give this legislation my support.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I rise in support of the proposed 
legislation of H.R. 2872, recognizing Louis Braille Bicentennial 
Braille literacy Commemorative Coin Act.
  Louis Braille invented the Braille method for reading and writing by 
the blind that has allowed millions of blind people to be literate 
participants in their societies. Braille, who lost his sight at the age 
of three after injuring himself with an awl in the shop of his father, 
recognized that the basis in sound and the large number of dots as many 
as 12 used to represent words was too cumbersome. He developed a code 
that uses no more than 6 dots in a cell of 2 columns of 3 dots, each to 
represent each letter and contain a system of punctuation and of 
contractions to speed writing and reading. He later published another 
book detailing a system of representation of mathematics.
  Braille's talents were quickly recognized and at 17, he was made the 
first blind apprentice teacher at the school, where he taught algebra, 
grammar, music and geography.
  However, despite the fact that many blind people enthusiastically 
adopted the system of writing and reading, but there was great 
skepticism among sighted people about the real usefulness of Braille 
code. His literacy aids the blind in taking responsible and self-
sufficient roles in society, such as employment. While 70% of the blind 
are unemployed, 85% of the employed blind are Braille-literate.
  I propose that Secretary of the Treasury mint and issue no more than 
400,000 one dollar coins bearing specific designs. The design

[[Page H406]]

of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the life and 
legacy of Louis Braille and the design on the obverse shall bear a 
representation of the image of Louis Braille.
  I support H.R. 2872 for many foregoing reasons and I urge my 
colleagues to follow suit.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2872, and I 
want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio, for his leadership 
on this bill. It has been a pleasure to work with him in advancing this 
important legislation. I also want to extend my appreciation to 
Chairman Oxley and Ranking Member Frank, of the Financial Services 
Committee, for their support.
  This bipartisan bill celebrates the achievements of Louis Braille, 
who created a system of reading and writing for the blind that has 
gained widespread acceptance since his death more than one hundred 
fifty years ago. To mark the 200th anniversary of his birth in 1809, 
this bill authorizes the minting of $1 coins bearing the image of 
Braille himself and emphasizing Braille literacy.
  I want to particularly express my deep appreciation to the National 
Federation of the Blind for their vital advocacy for more than 1.3 
million blind persons in the United States. Since its inception in 
1940, the National Federation for the Blind has worked tirelessly to 
battle discrimination, increase public awareness, and develop and 
support technological advances.
  The NFP also distributes The Braille Monitor, a monthly news 
publication, as well as online resources and a quarterly publication 
for the parents of blind children. With more than 50,000 members and 
affiliates in every state across America, NFB has led the way in 
demonstrating its ability to serve the interests of the blind 
population.
  This bill holds special significance for me, as the National 
Federation of the Blind is headquartered in my Congressional district, 
in Baltimore, Maryland.
  Dr. Marc Maurer, who has served as President of the National 
Federation of the Blind for 20 years, has shown exemplary leadership of 
this organization, as has the NFB's First Vice President, Joyce 
Scanlan, an active member since 1970. Sharon Maneki, President of the 
Maryland Chapter, has been instrumental in advancing the cause of blind 
persons throughout our state. I would also like to thank Jesse Hartle 
of the NFB for his hard work on behalf of the organization.
  I am pleased to note that H.R. 2872 is cosponsored by the entire 
Maryland delegation, as well as by more than 300 members of the House.
  The NFB's mission statement declares that ``the real problem of 
blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the misunderstanding and lack 
of information which exist.'' As part of this mission, the NFB has been 
campaigning to increase awareness of the Braille system of 
communication.
  The Braille code became dominant in the United States during the 20th 
century, and it served as a gateway to education for the blind.
  In recent years the Braille code has been in declining use among the 
blind population. It is currently taught to only about ten percent of 
blind students and is usually not taught at all to the elderly.
  The NFB holds as one of its major goals the reintroduction of Braille 
into education for the blind. Braille readers can read up to 400 words 
per minute, comparable to the speed of print readers. Braille is also 
essential for note-taking, mathematics and the study of foreign 
languages. Moreover, the computerization of Braille allows users to 
write much more rapidly than in the past.
  Commemorating the contributions of Louis Braille is a worthy goal.
  Increasing awareness of Braille and broadening opportunities for use 
as an educational tool are two other pivotal goals that this 
legislation will help achieve.
  I want to thank my colleagues for their resounding support of H.R. 
2872 and urge the House to help further the legacy of Louis Braille by 
voting for this bill.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2872, the 
``Louis Braille Bicentennial--Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin 
Act,'' introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Ney.
  Mr. Speaker, I confess I learned something reading this legislation. 
All of us know some blind people, and all of us, of course, see Braille 
writing in elevators and elsewhere as we move through our daily lives.
  But sitting down and reading the story of the courage and the 
intelligence it must have taken for a young blind man 200 years ago in 
France to fight for an education for himself when many sighted kids his 
age weren't getting even a high school education, is remarkable. And 
doing it when there were very few books printed for the blind--those 
only with giant embossed letters--must have been excruciatingly slow 
and taken a huge amount of self-discipline. To have discovered and 
modified a method of communication used by the Army into something that 
could easily be reproduced and read--and more importantly written by 
the blind, which was not really the case with those giant embossed 
letters--was a truly revolutionary breakthrough.
  As a result, Mr. Speaker, long before the amazing technology that we 
all take for granted, the blind who were taught to read and write 
Braille were able to live normal lives and participate fully in 
society. Still, and this is something else I learned, despite all the 
independence that reading and writing Braille confers on the blind, 
only about 10 percent of blind children are taught Braille. Thus, I 
support the provision in the bill that devotes income from surcharges 
on the sale of these coins to a Braille Literacy Program operated by 
the National Federation of the Blind. And I think it is important to 
note that the silver dollar coins that would be produced under this 
bill would all bear, on their reverse, a full-sized Braille 
abbreviation for Braille--the raised dots that form the letters BRL.
  Mr. Speaker, this commemorative coin program, like all those that 
pass through the Financial Services Committee, proceeds at no cost to 
the taxpayer and requires the beneficiary, in this case the NFB, to 
raise from private sources an amount equal to or greater than the 
amount of surcharge income that will be received, and also demands 
strict post-disbursement audit process to ensure that the funds are 
used for their statutorily intended purpose. In this case, I have no 
doubt that the NFB can raise the matching funds and will use the income 
to really very effectively raise the profile of Braille literacy.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, noting that 302 Members of the House have co-
sponsored this bill, I urge its immediate passage.
  I also submit for the Record the following exchange of 
correspondence:

                                         House of Representatives,


                              Committee on Financial Services,

                                Washington, DC, February 27, 2006.
     Hon. William M. Thomas,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of 
         Representatives, Longworth House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thomas: I am writing concerning H.R. 2872, 
     the ``Louis Braille Bicentennial-Braille Literacy 
     Commemorative Coin Act,'' which was introduced in the House 
     and referred to the Committee on Financial Services on June 
     13, 2005. It is my expectation that this bill be scheduled 
     for floor consideration in the near future.
       As you know, section 7 of the bill establishes a surcharge 
     for the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the 
     bill. I acknowledge your committee's jurisdictional interest 
     in such surcharges as revenue matters. However, I request 
     that your committee forego action on H.R. 2872 in order to 
     allow the bill to come to the floor expeditiously. I 
     appreciate your cooperation in so doing, and agree that your 
     decision to forego further action on this bill will not 
     prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with respect to its 
     jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar legislation. I 
     would support your request for conferees on those provisions 
     within your jurisdiction should this bill be the subject of a 
     House-Senate conference.
       I will include a copy of this letter and your response in 
     the Congressional Record when this bill is considered by the 
     House. Thank you again for your assistance.
           Yours truly,
                                                 Michael G. Oxley,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____
                                  
                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                Washington, DC, February 27, 2006.
     Hon. Michael G. Oxley,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, Rayburn House 
         Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Oxley: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     H.R. 2872, the ``Louis Braille Bicentennial-Braille Literacy 
     Commemorative Coin Act,'' which is scheduled for Floor action 
     on Tuesday, February 28, 2006.
       As you noted, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains 
     jurisdiction over matters that concern raising revenue. H.R. 
     2872 contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for 
     the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the 
     bill, and thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee 
     on Ways and Means. However, in order to expedite this bill 
     for floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action. 
     This is being done with the understanding that it does not in 
     any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the 
     appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives 
     on this bill or similar legislation.
       I appreciate and agree to your offer to include this 
     exchange of letters on this matter in the Congressional 
     Record during floor consideration.
           Best regards,
                                                      Bill Thomas,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Conaway). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from

[[Page H407]]

Ohio (Mr. Ney) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 
2872, 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.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________