[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID (for Mr. Rockefeller (for himself, Mr. Byrd, Mr. 
        Bayh, Mr. Begich, Mr. Nelson, of Nebraska, Mr. Whitehouse, and 
        Mr. Levin)):
  S. 1012. 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 introduce the 
Mother's Day Centennial Coin Commemorative Coin Act. I am proud to have 
the senior Senator from West Virginia, Senator Byrd, as an original 
cosponsor given that this is a special event for our state. We are 
joined by Senators Bayh, Begich, Ben Nelson, Whitehouse and Levin.
  In 1908, a West Virginian woman by the name of Anna Jarvis petitioned 
her local church to declare May 9th as Mother's Day. Within 6 years, 
the holiday became nationally recognized. Now, more than 100 years 
after that first Mother's Day, we have the opportunity to commemorate 
the centennial of this great holiday and further recognize the millions 
of American mothers whose essential role in life cannot be overstated.
  The legislation I am introducing today would recognize the centennial 
of Mother's Day by authorizing the Treasury to mint commemorative 
Mother's Day coins. Profits generated from the sale of the coins would 
be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and The National Osteoporosis 
Foundation. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has raised more than $1 billion 
for breast cancer research since 1982, and the National Osteoporosis 
Foundation is considered our Nation's leading voluntary health 
organization. Thousands of women have benefited from the efforts of 
these organizations and they are well deserving of our support.
  These coins will not only raise awareness of the proud history of 
Mother's Day, but will help improve the health of thousands of our 
Nation's mothers. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to reflect upon 
their relationships with the mothers in their lives, and join me in 
supporting this legislation to recognize the past century's worth of 
noble women and help ensure the health of those to come in the next 
century.

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