[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E192]
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

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 23, 2007

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 392, which requires the Circulating Quarter Dollar Coin 
Program to honor 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.
  Madam Speaker, you will recall that in 1999, the United States Mint 
began circulating quarters in commemoration of each of the 50 States. 
The coin honoring my great State of Texas was issued in 2004. The coin, 
featuring the Lone Star of Texas, is the 28th in the series and 
commemorates Texas' admission to the Union as the 28th State on 
December 29, 1845.
  To date, Mr. Speaker, 40 of the 50 State coins have been circulated. 
I look forward to seeing the last 10 States honored with their own 
special quarter-dollar coin.
  Unfortunately, the beautiful city in which we stand today, our 
Nation's capital, has been thus far denied the opportunity to 
commemorate its vital importance as a part of our union, with a 
quarter-dollar coin of its own. Likewise, the United States territories 
have not had the opportunity to commemorate their important role in our 
nation. H.R. 392 would change this regrettable state of affairs.
  I thank the delegate from the District of Columbia, Ms. Norton, for 
introducing this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of 
it. I am, however, saddened that she herself cannot cast a vote in 
favor of this bill since she is not yet permitted a vote on the floor 
of the House or in the Committee of the Whole. I am optimistic that the 
new Democratic majority in this House will grant elected delegates the 
right to vote in the Committee of the Whole at the earliest possible 
opportunity. I remain a strong supporter of H.R. 328, the District of 
Columbia Fair and Equal Voting Rights Act of 2007, which will give the 
representative for the District of Columbia a full, fair, and equal 
vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.
  As a supporter of freedom, democracy, and equality, I believe that it 
is long overdue for the citizens of the District of Columbia to have a 
representative in Congress who can vote on the vital legislation 
considered in this august body. It is wrong, Madam Speaker, that the 
citizens of the District of Columbia, who after all pay taxes to the 
United States, serve in the Armed Forces, and are subject to the laws 
and jurisdiction of the United States, are denied a vote in the body 
that imposes those taxes, raises and maintains the Armed Forces, and 
makes the laws that each of us must obey. Similarly, we cannot deny the 
territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, 
and the Northern Mariana Islands the right to have a vote in Congress. 
Doing so denies the important relationships of these territories to our 
Nation and diminishes the contributions of their people to our country.
  In light of this unfortunate situation, I commend the delegate from 
our Nation's Capital for introducing H.R. 392, to show the people of 
the United States capital and territories that we do indeed honor them. 
I urge my colleagues to pay tribute to them by voting in favor of this 
legislation to establish a quarter dollar coin program in their 
commemoration.

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