[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 69 (Thursday, May 8, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2877-S2878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself and Mr. Manchin):
  S. 2310. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint 
coins in commemoration 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 Commemorative Coin Act. I am proud to be joined by Senator 
Manchin in this important effort.
  Mother's Day is a special event for all West Virginians because this 
annual tribute to mothers began in our state. In 1908, a West Virginia 
woman by the name of Anna Jarvis petitioned her local church to declare 
May 9th as Mother's Day. She hoped that this holiday would serve as a 
day to remember and honor our mothers, and to promote peace and 
understanding. Within a year, all 46 States celebrated Mother's Day in 
some fashion, and in 1914, Congress and the President declared the 
second Sunday of May ``Mother's Day.'' This May 9 will mark the 
centennial for the national recognition of Mother's Day, and this bill 
provides an opportunity to commemorate this important holiday and 
further recognize the

[[Page S2878]]

millions of American mothers whose essential role in all of our lives 
canna be overstated.
  The legislation I am introducing today would recognize Mother's Day 
by authorizing the Treasury to mint a commemorative Mother's Day coin. 
Profits generated from the sale of these coins would be donated to the 
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the National Osteoporosis 
Foundation. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has advanced cures 
for catastrophic pediatric diseases through research and treatment; and 
the National Osteoporosis Foundation is considered our Nation's leading 
voluntary health organization.
  In the U.S. alone, 10 million people have osteoporosis, and 80 
percent of those who suffer from this disease are women. This 
legislation not only honors our nation's mothers, but also helps to 
raise funds to fight a serious disease that disproportionately impacts 
women. Thousands of mothers and their children have benefited from the 
efforts of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the National 
Osteoporosis Foundation, and they are well-deserving of our support. 
Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation to 
honor every mother in our country.
  I can think of no better way to celebrate Mother's Day than by 
helping to promote the health of American mothers and their children.
                                 ______