[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1841-H1844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2040) 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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2040
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 ``Civil Rights Act of 1964
Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress hereby finds as follows:
(1) On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks' brave act of defiance,
refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a
segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, galvanized the modern
civil rights movement and led to the desegregation of the
South.
(2) On February 1, 1960, 4 college students, Joseph McNeil,
Franklin McCain, David Richmond, and Ezell Blair, Jr., asked
to be served at a lunch counter in Greensboro, North
Carolina, and lunch counter sit-ins began to occur throughout
the South to challenge segregation in places of public
accommodation.
(3) On May 4, 1961, the Freedom Rides into the South began
to test new court orders barring segregation in interstate
transportation, and riders were jailed and beaten by mobs in
several places, including Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama.
(4) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the leading civil
rights advocate of the time, spearheading the civil rights
movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s with
the goal of nonviolent social change and full civil rights
for African Americans.
(5) On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led
over 250,000 civil rights supporters in the March on
Washington and delivered his famous ``I Have A Dream'' speech
to raise awareness and support for civil rights legislation.
(6) Mrs. Coretta Scott King, a leading participant in the
American civil rights movement, was side-by-side with her
husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during many civil
rights marches, organized Freedom Concerts to draw attention
to the Movement, and worked in her own right to create an
America in which all people have equal rights.
(7) The mass movement sparked by Rosa Parks and led by Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., among others, called upon the
Congress and Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson
to pass civil rights legislation which culminated in the
enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
(8) The Civil Rights Act of 1964 greatly expanded civil
rights protections, 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 anti-discrimination laws.
(9) We are an eminently better Nation because of Rosa
Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and all those men and
women who have confronted, and continue to confront,
injustice and inequality wherever they see it.
(10) Equality in education was one of the cornerstones of
the civil rights movement.
(11) On September 10, 1961, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
wrote that African American ``students are coming to
understand that education and learning have become tools for
shaping the future and not devices of privilege for an
exclusive few''.
(12) Over its long and distinguished history, the United
Negro College Fund has provided scholarships and operating
funds to its member colleges that have enabled more than
300,000 young African Americans to earn college degrees and
become successful members of society.
(13) Those graduates include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
as well as leaders in the fields of education, science,
medicine, law, entertainment, literature, the military, and
politics who have made major contributions to the civil
rights movement and the creation of a more equitable society.
(14) Congress has an obligation to lead America's continued
struggle to fight discrimination and ensure equal rights for
all.
(15) The year 2014 will mark the semicentennial of the
passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--The Secretary of the Treasury
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'')
shall mint and issue not more than 350,000 $1 coins 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 5136 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.--The design of the coins minted
under this Act shall be emblematic of the enactment of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its contribution to civil rights
in America.
[[Page H1842]]
(b) Designation and Inscriptions.--On each coin minted
under this Act there shall be--
(1) a designation of the value of the coin;
(2) an inscription of the year ``2014''; and
(3) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We
Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus
Unum''.
(c) 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
(2) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee
established under section 5135 of title 31, United States
Code.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be
issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Commencement of Issuance.--The Secretary may issue
coins minted under this Act beginning January 1, 2014, except
that the Secretary may initiate sales of such coins, without
issuance, before such date.
(c) Termination of Minting Authority.--No coins shall be
minted under this Act after December 31, 2014.
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.
(a) Sale Price.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the
Secretary at a price equal to the sum of the face value of
the coins, the surcharge required under section 7(a) for the
coins, and the cost of designing and issuing such coins
(including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead
expenses, and marketing).
(b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the
coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid Orders at a Discount.--
(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 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 United Negro College
Fund (UNCF) to carry out the purposes of the Fund, including
providing scholarships and internships for minority students
and operating funds and technology enhancement services for
39 member historically black colleges and universities.
(c) Audits.--The United Negro College Fund 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 Fund 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
Georgia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heller) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material
thereon.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself just a couple of
minutes here at the beginning.
This is a very, very important and timely piece of legislation. H.R.
2040 is the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin Act. As a
steadfast proponent of this most important legislation, it is indeed my
honor and privilege.
First and foremost, I wish to commend my good friend and my own
personal hero and mentor from the great State of Georgia, my colleague,
Mr. John Lewis, on the extraordinary work that he has done throughout
his entire life, and certainly on the work to bring this commemorative
coin bill recognizing the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 to the floor with the minting of a $1 coin.
I applaud the bill for honoring not only the importance of this
legislation, but also the many contributions of so many Americans from
all walks of life, from all different backgrounds that have come
together to make this country great, and certainly have made
outstanding contributions during the civil rights era.
I further want to acknowledge the vital role of the United Negro
College Fund, UNCF, that they have played in ensuring access to and
opportunities for higher education for so many deserving students who,
if it had not been for the UNCF, would not have received a college
education. During its 64-year existence, the UNCF has raised more than
$2.3 billion to support its 39 Historically Black Colleges and
University member institutions. And during 2007, the UNCF raised an
impressive $220 million in scholarships to help some 65,000 students
realize their dreams of receiving a college education. So it's
important for us to note that this is more than just a piece of
legislation for it's important to note that the proceeds from the sale
of this coin will go towards advancing what the Civil Rights Act
initially made possible, opportunity for education and empowerment by
benefiting the United Negro College Fund and those member schools which
played such a vital role, Madam Speaker, in the sit-ins, they started
on black college campuses, on the marches, the civil rights marches
started by students on black college campuses, demonstrations in the
deep south and throughout this country energized by those on black
college campuses. These United Negro College Fund students, graduates,
faculty and institutions played a significant part in the Civil Rights
Movement, and I, as a young activist at that time, as many of my
colleagues, am a graduate myself of a Historically Black University,
Florida A&M University. And I might add, had it not been for Florida
A&M University, Madam Speaker, I would not be standing in the Congress
of the United States today.
Now, granted we've come a long way. However, there is still much,
much work to do. I am living proof that minorities are able to elect
the candidate of their choice as I was elected to the Georgia House of
Representatives 34 years ago, becoming the youngest legislator to serve
in the State House of Representatives at that time. I owe a tremendous
debt of gratitude to those who came before me, and the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 has been instrumental in achieving all of these successes.
I submit the following correspondence for the Record:
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, March 6, 2008.
Hon. Barney Frank,
Chairman, Financial Services Committee,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Frank, I am writing regarding H.R. 2040, the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin Act.
As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains
jurisdiction over bills that raise revenue. H.R. 2040
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, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding
commemorative coin bills and 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 in the future.
I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 2040, and would ask
that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be
included in the record.
Sincerely,
Charles B. Rangel,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, March 6, 2008.
Hon. Charles B. Rangel,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Dear Charlie: I am writing in response to your letter
regarding H.R. 2040, the ``Civil Rights Act of 1964
Commemorative Coin Act,'' which was introduced in the House
and referred to the Committee on Financial Services on April
25, 2007. It is my understanding that this bill will be
scheduled for floor consideration shortly.
I wish to confirm our mutual understanding on this bill.
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 appreciate
your willingness to forego committee action on H.R. 2040 in
order to allow
[[Page H1843]]
the bill to come to the floor expeditiously. I 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 these provisions
within your jurisdiction should this bill be the subject of a
House-Senate conference.
I will include this exchange of letters in the
Congressional Record when this bill is considered by the
House. Thank you again for your assistance.
Barney Frank,
Chairman.
{time} 1330
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, it's a great honor to rise today to support passage of
legislation honoring the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 with the minting of a commemorative $1 coin.
It is a particular honor to be working on a bill sponsored by one of
the heroes of the civil rights movement, Congressman John Lewis and my
colleague Deborah Pryce.
Madam Speaker, the Civil Rights Act is widely recognized as one of
the most effective, influential pieces of legislation passed by the
United States Congress in the last century. The statute helped
dismantle the insidious system of legalized discrimination in voting
and public accommodations in America and served as a model for
subsequent civil rights laws. Equally important, the Civil Rights Act
helped America belatedly reach the promise put forth by our Founding
Fathers, that all men are indeed created equal.
The Act is the bedrock for the America we know today, a Nation that
recognizes the equal rights of the disabled, women, the elderly,
minority citizens, and other groups as invaluable contributors to our
society, and all inherently equally deserving of the protections
afforded by our Constitution.
The bill before us today provides for the minting of a Civil Rights
Commemorative Coin, with the proceeds expected to raise up to $2.5
million for the United Negro College Fund, providing scholarships and
internships for minority students and assisting our Nation's
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As the bill honors our
Nation's past, it helps to fund our Nation's future.
Madam Speaker, it is a great honor for me to be joined in this
legislative effort by Congressman John Lewis. Mr. Lewis, the principal
sponsor, is a man whose courage, thoughtful advocacy, and leadership in
the struggle for civil rights speaks for itself. His brave leadership
in the first Selma to Montgomery march, and his support for nonviolent
revolution in the face of the brutal attacks of that fateful Sunday are
the very acts of courage the coin seeks to honor for future
generations.
It is especially auspicious that we are taking up the bill this week,
because Friday marks the tragic 40th anniversary of the assassination
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, we can help honor his legacy and
his indelible and inalterable imprint on America by authorizing a
tribute to his historic works in the form of a commemorative coin.
While it is but a small tribute to a man who gave his life for our
betterment, it is a permanent statement of gratitude from a Nation
forever thankful for his vision, compassion, and determination.
Madam Speaker, pick up any newspaper in the country and you will see
that the topic of race relations continues to be an important part of
our American dialogue. But we should not be a Nation that hides from
its past. We cannot sweep our past mistakes under the rug and refrain
from debate on topics that we might find uncomfortable. Rather, we must
know that the fight for equality for all is never ending and that
recognizing and understanding our Nation's past is critical if we are
to ensure a just America for all in the future.
The fight for civil rights continues, and the Civil Rights
Commemorative Coin honors both our Nation's historic struggles and the
promise for justice and equality for all the generations that will
follow us.
I urge immediate passage of this bill, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Let me just extend my deep appreciation to the
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heller) for his kind words. They were very
touching and meaningful. Thank you very much.
Now, Madam Speaker, if I may yield time to probably the most fitting
and appropriate person to speak on this bill, the author of the bill,
my friend and a man who has put his life on the line repeatedly for
civil rights, for human rights and for making this country and the
world the beloved place that we all seek. Let me yield as much time as
he may need to my good friend, John Lewis of Georgia.
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friends and
my two colleagues for those kind words.
I'm honored to stand here today as the chief sponsor of this
legislation to recognize the brave and courageous men and women who
paved the way for the historic, and necessary, set of laws we call the
Civil Rights Act of 1964.
We would not be standing here today with this bill being considered
on the floor, with 313 cosponsors, without the help of my good friend
and colleague, Representative Vic Snyder. Representative Snyder was a
champion of this bill. I appreciate his support of this bill and the
ideas behind it.
I would also like to acknowledge Congresswoman Deborah Pryce for her
willingness to cosponsor this bill with me.
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks' brave act of defiance, refusing to
give up her seat to a white person on a segregated bus in Montgomery,
Alabama, galvanized the modern-day civil rights movement. I remember as
a young child, 15 years old, listening to the radio and hearing about
Rosa Parks and the voice of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Their work inspired me and so many others to take up the cause of
equality and join the movement. We must never forget the sacrifices
that so many made.
I am proud, very proud, to be the lead sponsor of this legislation,
which celebrates the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and to remember those
who fought for its passage.
In 2014, the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act,
commemorative coins will be minted with the images of the brave men and
women who fought, and even died, for these laws. These coins will serve
as educational tools for our children and their children, so that the
struggle that so many took part in will never, ever be forgotten.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was necessary, and it was right to pass.
It greatly expanded civil rights protections. It outlawed segregation
and racial discrimination in public places, places of public
accommodation, the workplace, and even in federally funded programs. It
also pushed to end segregation in our Nation's schools.
It is only right then that we are working with the United Negro
College Fund to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this historic
milestone. Discrimination in our education system was real. For many
African Americans, their only hope for a college education was through
a UNCF school. UNCF institutions were founded to provide an education
for African Americans who were banned by law or by custom from seeking
a college education in the all-white public and private universities of
the South.
Today, UNCF continues their important mission of opening the doors to
a college education. Over 60 percent of UNCF-supported students are the
first in their families to attend college. By helping to fund the UNCF,
these coins will put in reach a college education for first-generation
students while also helping to ensure these important institutions of
higher education remain open for future and unborn generations.
I'm proud to stand here today as we pay tribute to the 1964 Civil
Rights Act and to remember those who made it possible. There is still
much work to be done, and we must continue to fight today, tomorrow,
and into the future.
I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this bill.
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, now I would like to extend and
yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank
Representative Scott from Georgia for yielding time, and I also want to
commend the sponsor of this legislation
[[Page H1844]]
and recognize his tremendous leadership in the struggle for human
rights since his teen years when he was a mere lad. We heard him
mention the age of 15, and that's about the time that he became
actively engaged and involved in the struggle for human rights.
This legislation highlights the Voting Rights Act of 1964, which even
though all people in our country supposedly had the right to vote prior
to that time, it provided the kind of protections that were necessary
to make sure that those rights were not taken away, that those rights
were not denied.
I also want to commend Representative Lewis for his creative way of
helping to raise money for the United Negro College Fund. I've been
getting phone calls from my brother all week, and I know why he's
calling me, because every year he and a friend of his, Jackis Casson,
put on an event to raise money for the United Negro College Fund. And
so he's been calling to solicit me to buy my tickets, and so the more
money that we can generate through this legislation, the less money I
might have to give.
So I commend you so much and thank you so much.
Mr. HELLER of Nevada. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, this has been an extraordinary
occasion. It is very important to remember where we have been so that
we will have a good guide to determine where we need to go, and we have
done that this afternoon in not only memorializing this important Civil
Rights Act, but using this memorial of the 50th anniversary of the
passing of the Civil Rights Act to make a difference where it counts
the most, and that is in helping with the education of our young
people.
We have, indeed, made a difference here today. I recommend this bill,
and we feel very strongly that we will get a unanimous vote on this
bill.
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 2040 which is authored by my good friend from the Georgia
delegation, Mr. John Lewis.
Almost 44 years ago, the Civil Rights Act was passed into law. The
legislation was a long time in coming--in 1957 and 1960 similar
legislation had failed to pass Congress, and many attempts were made to
derail the bill that was eventually signed into law by President Lyndon
Johnson on July 2, 1964.
However, the period leading up to passage of the Civil Rights Act
seemed to happen in the blink of an eye compared to the long and
arduous journey we have endured since. Ensuring equality for men and
women of every race, creed, and orientation, though fixed in our laws
in 1964, was not immediately fixed in the hearts and minds of the
American people.
Martin Luther King once said, ``The arc of the moral universe is
long, but it bends towards justice.''
So it has been with civil rights in this country. And, just as
passage of antidiscrimination legislation did not end social discord in
1964, memorializing the Civil Rights Act on a coin from the U.S.
Treasury, as H.R. 2040 proposes, does not mean discrimination has run
its course in the United States. More than ever, as the United States
struggles with the problem of so many foreign born living in this
country, contemplates the idea of a black man or a woman as the
President of this country, and negotiates with nations whose religion
and morals differ widely from our own, we need to remember the values
inherent in the Civil Rights Act.
I commend Mr. Lewis and all the cosponsors for bringing this
legislation to the floor and I urge all my colleagues to join us in
support of it.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I rise today in strong support of H.R.
2040, requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in
commemoration of the semicentennial of the enactment of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, introduced by my distinguished colleague from
Georgia, Representative John Lewis.
I speak out today to commemorate the progress we have made in
casting out the demons of prejudice and discrimination. I speak out
today recognize the steps we have taken as a Nation to get closer to
the American Creed. However, I must also speak out today to call
attention to the progress we have yet to make in order to fulfill the
tenants of Civil Rights Act of 1964. I speak out today to challenge
this Nation to uphold our founding principles of equal opportunity for
all, regardless of race, color, sex, religion and national origin.
Though 44 years have passed since the passage of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, today, in 2008, we are still witnessing horrible
violations of the principles of this act. To cite a recent example, in
Waller County, Texas, an attempted disenfranchisement of Prairie View
A&M University students continues today, although the U.S. Supreme
Court affirmed Prairie View A&M University student voter rights in
1979.
On November 5, 2003, the Waller County, Texas district attorney
requested that the county Elections Administration bar the students at
Historically Black College Prairie View A&M University from voting
locally by virtue of his unilateral interpretation of ``domicile'' for
voting purposes. Texas voter registration law only requires a person to
be a resident of the county at least 30 days prior to the elections.
African-American students represent the majority of Prairie View A&M's
student body of 7,000 members, and these students constitute a major
voting bloc in Waller County. The district attorney's request sought to
effectively disenfranchise African-American college students in this
area; as such, this request suggested a form of voter intimidation and
likely had the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on
account of race or color. Despite a prolonged dialog with Texas
officials regarding this matter, relief from the pressures and
intimidation experienced by the students when attempting to exercise
their rights was never provided. This example does not stand alone
among the long list of discriminatory acts that continue to plague our
Nation.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin Act requires the
Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue, during 2014, up to 350,000
$1 coins designed to be emblematic of the enactment of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 and its contribution to civil rights in America. This coin
would symbolize our progress, commemorate the 50th anniversary of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, and serve as a constant reminder of the work
we still have to do. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Commemorative Coin
Act would also provide a surcharge of $10 per coin. All surcharges
received in conjunction with the sale of this coin would be paid to the
United Negro College Fund, UNCF. The $10 per coin surcharge will help
the UNCF provide scholarships and internships for minority students.
The money will also provide operating funds and technology enhancement
services for 39 member historically Black colleges and universities
throughout America.
Madam Speaker, this important legislation would commemorate a
landmark event in our history as Americans. By requiring the Secretary
of the Treasurer to mint coins in commemoration of the semicentennial
of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, this legislation will
celebrate our history, while also pushing us forward into a better
future. For these reasons, I strongly support H.R. 2040 and urge all
Members to do the same.
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2040, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________