[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3154-S3155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself and Mr. Byrd):
  S. 2883. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
coins in commemoration of the centennial of the establishment of 
Mother's Day; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
women of our Nation who have the cherished title of mother and 
grandmother. Whether through natural means, adoption or foster care, 
their patience and unending well-spring of love and affection make an 
incredible difference in the lives of children.
  No treasure, no riches can ever compare with a profoundly reassuring 
hug, the kind words that soothe broken spirits, or that reminder, 
rooted in affection, that we're not living up to our full potential. 
They inspire, believe and ultimately profess enormous pride in us--no 
matter our successes or failures.
  That is why it is not surprising that a young woman from Grafton, 
West Virginia, took to the streets of her hometown to honor her 
recently departed mother's love and life by passing out white 
carnations to all those who passed by. Anna Jarvis' one simple act of 
personal commemoration in May 1908, grew year after year. Eventually, 
Grafton's efforts would be recognized by the entire State of West 
Virginia in 1910. This was the first time a state recognized Mother's 
Day, and many more would soon follow.
  In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national 
Mother's Day, and from that day until now, mothers have been honored 
with flowers, breakfast in bed, and of course, those endearing homemade 
cards by little children that are steeped in sentiment--and often 
covered in glitter, macaroni and school paste.
  My wife Sharon would tell you that there is nothing more important 
than these simple gifts--first from our children, and now our 
grandchildren. They are cherished touchstones.
  At the same time, we think of our mothers as invincible. However, not 
even our mothers are immune to age or disease. For many families across 
the country, Mother's Day takes on even deeper meanings as parents get 
older.
  In my own life, my mother was a tremendous force. Each Mother's Day 
was a celebration of her spirit, intellect and determination--and all 
this was put to the test in her battle with Alzheimer's disease. It's 
not easy seeing the woman who raised you struggle with an illness that 
robs her of her dignity and quality of life. I know that my family is 
not the only one that has been touched by this disease--and I am 
certainly not the only son who could talk in such a deeply personal way 
about losing a mother. But just like Anna Jarvis, my sisters and I 
sought to honor our mother--and perhaps in the process help another 
mother or grandmother or family--by opening the Blanchette Rockefeller 
Neurosciences Institute.
  So it is altogether fitting and proper that as we prepare to 
commemorate that first, historic Mother's Day celebration in Grafton, 
that we as a Nation begin to reconnect with what Anna Jarvis was trying 
to achieve--community recognition of the role that women play in all 
our lives.
  Today, I am introducing legislation that authorizes the U.S. Treasury 
to mint commemorative coins to celebrate the centennial of Grafton's 
celebration. I am proud to have Senator Robert C. Byrd as an original 
cosponsor. The companion bill also has been introduced in the House of 
Representatives by my West Virginia colleague, Shelley Moore Capito. 
The proceeds from the sale of these coins won't go to the Government. 
Instead they will go to two organizations that are actively working to 
make a difference in the lives of our Nation's women who are battling 
breast cancer and osteoporosis--the Susan G. Komen for the Cure 
Foundation and the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
  Every day can, and should be Mother's Day. Through this bill, 
Americans will now have the chance to show, with the purchase of these 
coins, the high

[[Page S3155]]

regard we have for not only our mothers and grandmothers, but our 
sisters and nieces, and all the women who have made a difference in our 
lives. In the process, we can contribute to funding research that will 
improve the quality of their lives.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
                                 ______