[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H9300-H9302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND UNITED STATES TERRITORIES CIRCULATING QUARTER 
                           DOLLAR PROGRAM ACT

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Financial Services be discharged from further consideration of the 
bill (H.R. 3885) to provide for a circulating quarter dollar coin 
program to honor the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, Guam,

[[Page H9301]]

American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes, and ask for 
its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Delaware?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 3885

       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 HONORING 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 
     Honoring 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 one 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 honored, 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 Coinage 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) Timing and order of issuance.--Coins minted under 
     this subsection honoring 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.''.


     Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Castle

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. 
     Castle:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     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 HONORING THE 
                   DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND EACH OF THE 
                   TERRITORIES.

       Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(r) Redesign and Issuance of Circulating Quarter Dollar 
     Honoring 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 one 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 honored, 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 Coinage 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) Timing and order of issuance.--Coins minted under 
     this subsection honoring the

[[Page H9302]]

     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.''.

  Mr. CASTLE (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Delaware?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3885, the 
District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating Quarter 
Dollar Program Act. I want to thank both Chairman Oxley and Chairman 
Pryce for the Financial Services Committee's support for this 
legislation, and Leader Boehner and incoming chairman Barney Frank for 
their help in getting the bill to the floor as the 109th Congress winds 
down.
  The legislation before us would create a 1-year program following the 
end of the popular 50 State Quarter program that would create 
circulating quarters that bear images honoring 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.
  Mr. Speaker, the 50 State Quarter program has proved to be a great 
success--it has reinvigorated interest in coin collecting, has proven 
an invaluable educational tool, and has contributed close to $6 billion 
dollars to the U.S. Treasury, so far, through seigniorage and the sale 
of products for collectors. These savings will reduce interest on the 
debt, something we should all support. The state quarters have been the 
most popular coin program in the United State's Mint history, with an 
estimated 140 million Americans collecting the coins. Next year, in a 
program modeled after the state quarters, the Mint will begin issuing 
dollar coins bearing the images of the Presidents, changing the design 
four times a year.
  Mr. Speaker, DC and the territories weren't included in the state 
quarter program, but they deserve their own quarters and Americans 
deserve to be able to get those quarters and learn about their history. 
This legislation is a good bipartisan bill supported by other members 
of the Financial Services Committee and passed in the House in every 
Congress since we approved the state quarter legislation. I am pleased 
today that we have brought this much-needed bill to the floor. I urge 
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this 
important legislation, and I hope our colleagues in the other body now 
will approve it as well. The Mint needs adequate time to plan the 
designs for these coins, and sending this bill to the President 2 years 
from now is too late.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________