[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 143 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1662-E1663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF AMERICAN SAMOA'S COMMEMORATIVE QUARTER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2014

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include, for 
historical purposes, information about American Samoa's Commemorative 
Quarter.

                     [Press Release, Mar. 25, 2004]

   House Passes Bill To Provide American Samoa With a Commemorative 
                                Quarter

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that by a vote of 
     411 to 14 the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 2993, a bill 
     to provide for a circulating quarter dollar coin program to 
     commemorate American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, 
     Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana 
     Islands.
       In general, this legislation would amend the popular 50 
     States Commemorative Coin Program Act to include 6 new 
     designs emblematic of the District of Columbia, American 
     Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the 
     Northern Mariana Islands. Designs on the reverse side of each 
     quarter dollar issued during 2009 will be selected by the 
     Secretary of Treasury in consultation with the chief 
     executive officers of these areas, Congressman Faleomavaega 
     said.
       All five delegates are and were original co-sponsors of 
     this bi-partisan measure. This measure was first introduced 
     in the 106th Congress and passed overwhelmingly in the House 
     by a vote of 377-6. Unfortunately, the 106th Congress ended 
     before the Senate was able to consider our bill. During the 
     107th Congress, identical legislation (H.R. 4005) passed the 
     House and was received in the Senate in October of 2002. Once 
     again, the Senate was unable to consider this matter before 
     the 107th Congress adjourned.
       Now, we have introduced H.R. 2993 and we are hopeful that 
     the House and Senate will pass this legislation before the 
     108th Congress adjourns. At this time, I want to thank 
     Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for her leadership and I 
     also want to thank the other Delegates who have also worked 
     tirelessly to ensure that this legislation is considered, 
     Congressman Faleomavaega said.
       It is only fitting for Congress to acknowledge the 
     Territories relationship with the United States. Speaking on 
     behalf of American Samoa, we have a long and proud history of 
     supporting the United States. The traditional leaders of the 
     islands of Tutuila and Aunuu ceded our islands to the United 
     States in 1900. Four years later, the King of Manua and his 
     chiefs ceded the Manua Islands.
       In the early part of the century, the port village of Pago 
     Pago was used as a coaling station for U.S. naval ships. 
     During WWII, it was used as a support base for U.S. soldiers. 
     To this day, American Samoa serves as a refueling point for 
     U.S. naval ships and military aircraft.
       American Samoa also has a per capita enlistment rate in the 
     U.S. military which is as high as any State or U.S. 
     Territory. Our sons and daughters have served in record 
     numbers in every U.S. military engagement from WWII to 
     present operations in Iraq. We have stood by the United 
     States in good times and bad and I believe this relationship 
     should be acknowledged with the issuance of a commemorative 
     coin.
       H.R. 2993 affords us an opportunity to recognize the 
     special contributions that American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, 
     the Northern Marianas and the District of Columbia have made 
     to the history of our Nation. I thank my colleagues for 
     voting in favor of this legislation and I urge the Senate to 
     also support our cause, the Congressman concluded.
                                  ____


                     [Press Release, Oct. 4, 2005]

Quarter Dollar Bill Commemorating American Samoa and Other Territories 
                              Reintroduced

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that the 
     Territorial Delegates have joined with Congresswoman Eleanor 
     Holmes Norton to reintroduce a bill that will grant 
     circulating quarter dollars to commemorate American Samoa, 
     the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
     Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.
       Essentially, this legislation will amend the popular 50 
     States Commemorative Coin Program Act to include six new 
     designs representative of the District of Columbia, American 
     Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Northern 
     Mariana Islands. The coins will be issued in 2009 and their 
     respective designs will be issued by the Secretary of 
     Treasury in consultation with the chief executive officers of 
     these areas, Congressman Faleomavaega said.
       All five of the delegates are and were original co-sponsors 
     to this bi-partisan measure. The measure was originally 
     introduced in the 106th, 107th and 108th Congresses and 
     easily passed through the House on each occasion. But, in 
     each instance, the Senate was unable to take up the matter 
     before Congress adjourned.
       Pleased by the support we have seen for this legislation by 
     the House, we have introduced H.R. 3885 and are hopeful that 
     the House and Senate will pass this legislation before the 
     109th Congress adjourns, Faleomavaega said. H.R. 3885 is an 
     appropriate way for Congress to acknowledge the historic 
     relationship between the Territories and the United States. 
     American Samoa has a long record of supporting the United 
     States, specifically in relation to military service. 
     American Samoa has an enlistment rate which is as high per 
     capita to that of any other State of U.S. Territory. Our sons 
     and daughters have served proudly in every U.S. military 
     engagement from WWII to the current operations in Iraq. Our 
     territory has also served the U.S. military as a fueling 
     station for naval ships and military aircraft and in WWII it 
     served as a support base for U.S. soldiers.
       At this time, I would like to thank my colleagues for their 
     commitment to this effort. I especially want to thank 
     Congresswoman Norton for her leadership. Together, we remain 
     hopeful that Congress will take this opportunity to recognize 
     the contributions that the District of Columbia, American 
     Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Northern 
     Marianas have made to our Nation and, together, we urge 
     Congress to support our cause, Congressman Faleomavaega 
     concluded.
                                  ____


                     [Press Release, Jul. 27, 2009]

        Faleomavaega Announces Release of American Samoa Quarter

       Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that American 
     Samoa's commemorative quarter has been released today by the 
     U.S. Mint to the Federal Reserve banks.
       ``This quarter has been 9 years in the making and came 
     about as a result of federal legislation the Congressional 
     Delegates sponsored and cosponsored since 2000,'' 
     Faleomavaega said.
       ``Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of 
     Columbia championed the cause, and Congressman Jose Serrano 
     of New York included our last bill in the 2008 Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act.''
       ``After cosponsoring H.R. 5010, H.R. 4005, H.R. 2993, H.R. 
     3883 and H.R. 392 from the 106th Congress to the 110th, 
     Congress finally passed our legislation into law, and my 
     colleagues and I who represent the Territories and the 
     District of Columbia are pleased by the outcome.''
       ``As part of the legislation, we wanted to make sure our 
     local Governors could also participate in this historic 
     process so we made sure our legislation was modeled after the 
     50 State Quarters Program which included a provision to allow 
     our local governments to design our quarters. I especially 
     commend Governor Togiola and his administration for the work 
     they did in designing American Samoa's quarter.''
       ``While the U.S. Mint and my office had scheduled an 
     unveiling ceremony in Washington this morning to coincide 
     with today's release of American Samoa's quarter, Governor 
     Togiola has requested to be part of this Congressional 
     ceremony and, as a courtesy to him, the President of the 
     Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Secretary of Samoan 
     Affairs, and the First Lady who are traveling with the 
     Governor, I have agreed to postpone the Congressional 
     ceremony until Wednesday of this week since Governor Togiola 
     had to cancel the local ceremony he had arranged with the 
     U.S. Mint due to his decision to come to Washington DC this 
     week. The Governor's event with the U.S. Mint was scheduled 
     to be held in American

[[Page E1663]]

     Samoa on July 29 but, according to the U.S. Mint, the 
     Governor has now rescheduled American Samoa's local ceremony 
     for sometime in September.''
       ``Since the coin was officially released today and because 
     we want the people of American Samoa to be able to celebrate 
     and share in this important moment, the U.S. Mint and my 
     office will issue another statement with photos after we 
     unveil the quarter in Washington this Wednesday,'' 
     Faleomavaega concluded.

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