[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6402-S6403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. Obama, Mr. Brown, Mr. Reid, 
        Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Durbin, 
        Mr. Menendez, Mrs. Feinstein, and Ms. Landrieu):
  S. 1437. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
coins in commemoration of the semicentennial of the enactment of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of a bill 
that directs the Treasury Department to mint 350,000 $1 coins marking 
the semi-centennial of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  The Civil Rights Act of 1964 greatly expanded civil rights 
protections by outlawing racial discrimination and segregation in 
public places and places of public accommodation, in federally funded 
programs and employment, and encouraging desegregation in public 
schools, and has served as a model for subsequent antidiscrimination 
laws.
  This landmark legislation once implemented, had effects that were far 
reaching and that, clearly from its inception to today, fundamentally 
changed the course of our Nation.
  Equality and access to education were two of the hallmarks of the 
civil rights movement.
  The United Negro College Fund, UNCF, is the Nation's largest, oldest, 
most successful and comprehensive minority higher education assistance 
organization. UNCF provides operating funds and technology enhancement 
services for 39 member historically black colleges and universities, 
HBCUs, scholarships and internships for students at about 900 
institutions and faculty and administrative professional training.
  Since its inception in 1943, the UNCF has raised more than $2 billion 
to help a total of more than 350,000 students attend college and has 
distributed more funds to help minorities attend school than any entity 
outside of the government.
  Besides being a noble tribute, this commemorative coin will assist 
the UNCF provide scholarships and internships for minority students and 
assist

[[Page S6403]]

with technology enhancement services for historically black colleges 
and universities.
  In Michigan, the on-time graduation rate for African American 
students is less than half that of the overall rate for high school 
students. Moreover, the percentage of Michigan high school freshmen 
enrolling in college within 4 years is just 38 percent, the rate for 
the top States is 53 percent. These statistics are astounding. Michigan 
currently is working to invest more State dollars into improving high 
school education and reforming graduation requirements to some of the 
most rigorous in the Nation. If we make scholarships like this one 
available to students, and organizations like the UNCF helping African 
Americans get into colleges and stay in colleges, not just historically 
black colleges and universities, these statistics will improve. I am 
confident this coin bill is a step toward improving the state of 
college attendance and graduation rates for African American students.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
                                 ______