[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19289-19292]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND UNITED STATES TERRITORIES CIRCULATING QUARTER 
                           DOLLAR PROGRAM ACT

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4005) to provide for a circulating quarter dollar coin 
program to commemorate the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4005

       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 ``District of Columbia and 
     United States Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. ISSUANCE OF REDESIGNED QUARTER DOLLARS COMMEMORATING 
                   THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND EACH OF THE 
                   TERRITORIES.

       Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection:
       ``(n) Redesign and Issuance of Circulating Quarter Dollar 
     Commemorating the District of Columbia and Each of the 
     Territories.--
       ``(1) Redesign in 2009.--
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the fourth sentence of 
     subsection (d)(1) and subsection (d)(2) and subject to 
     paragraph (6)(B), quarter dollar coins issued during 2009, 
     shall have designs on the reverse side selected in accordance 
     with this subsection which are emblematic of the District of 
     Columbia and the territories.
       ``(B) Flexibility with regard to placement of 
     inscriptions.--Notwithstanding subsection (d)(1), the 
     Secretary may select a design for quarter dollars issued 
     during 2009 in which--
       (i) the inscription described in the second sentence of 
     subsection (d)(1) appears on the reverse side of any such 
     quarter dollars; and
       (ii) any inscription described in the third sentence of 
     subsection (d)(1) or the designation of the value of the coin 
     appears on the obverse side of any such quarter dollars.
       ``(2) Single district or territory design.--The design on 
     the reverse side of each quarter dollar issued during 2009 
     shall be emblematic of one of the following: The District of 
     Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
     Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth 
     of the Northern Mariana Islands.
       ``(3) Selection of design.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each of the 6 designs required under 
     this subsection for quarter dollars shall be selected by the 
     Secretary after consultation with--
       ``(i) the chief executive of the District of Columbia or 
     the territory being commemorated, or such other officials or 
     group as the chief executive officer of the District of 
     Columbia or the territory may designate for such purpose; and
       ``(ii) the Commission of Fine Arts.
       ``(B) Selection and approval process.--Designs for quarter 
     dollars may be submitted in accordance with the design 
     selection and approval process developed by the Secretary in 
     the sole discretion of the Secretary.
       ``(C) Participation.--The Secretary may include 
     participation by District or territorial officials, artists 
     from the District of Columbia or the territory, engravers of 
     the United States Mint, and members of the general public.
       ``(D) Standards.--Because it is important that the Nation's 
     coinage and currency bear dignified designs of which the 
     citizens of the United States can be proud, the Secretary 
     shall not select any frivolous or inappropriate design for 
     any quarter dollar minted under this subsection.
       ``(E) Prohibition on certain representations.--No head and 
     shoulders portrait or bust of any person, living or dead, and 
     no portrait of a living person may be included in the design 
     of any quarter dollar under this subsection.
       ``(4) Treatment as numismatic items.--For purposes of 
     sections 5134 and 5136, all coins minted under this 
     subsection shall be considered to be numismatic items.
       ``(5) Issuance.--
       ``(A) Quality of coins.--The Secretary may mint and issue 
     such number of quarter dollars of each design selected under 
     paragraph (4) in uncirculated and proof qualities as the 
     Secretary determines to be appropriate.
       ``(B) Silver coins.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), the 
     Secretary may mint and issue such number of quarter dollars 
     of each design selected under paragraph (4) as the Secretary 
     determines to be appropriate, with a content of 90 percent 
     silver and 10 percent copper.
       ``(C) Sources of bullion.--The Secretary shall obtain 
     silver for minting coins under subparagraph (B) from 
     available resources, including stockpiles established under 
     the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.
       ``(D) Timing and order of issuance.--Coins minted under 
     this subsection commemorating the District of Columbia and 
     each of the territories shall be issued in equal sequential 
     intervals during 2009 in the following order: the District of 
     Columbia,

[[Page 19290]]

     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
     United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Mariana Islands.
       ``(6) Other provisions.--
       ``(A) Application in event of admission as a state.--If the 
     District of Columbia or any territory becomes a State before 
     the end of the 10-year period referred to in subsection 
     (l)(1), subsection (l)(7) shall apply, and this subsection 
     shall not apply, with respect to such State.
       ``(B) Application in event of independence.--If any 
     territory becomes independent or otherwise ceases to be a 
     territory or possession of the United States before quarter 
     dollars bearing designs which are emblematic of such 
     territory are minted pursuant to this subsection, this 
     subsection shall cease to apply with respect to such 
     territory.
       ``(7) Territory defined.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term `territory' means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
     Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and 
     the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr. Castle) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).


                             General Leave

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 4005.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Delaware?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4005, the District of Columbia 
and United States Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act 
sponsored by the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).
  As Members are aware, the 50-State quarter program that began in 1999 
has been a truly successful effort. I had the privilege of serving as 
the Chairman of the then-Domestic and International Monetary Policy 
Subcommittee at the time the 50-State Quarter bill was signed into law. 
The program calls for the production over 10 years of quarter dollar 
coins with the reverse, or back, of the coins depicting scenes 
representing each of the 50 States. Five are produced each year.
  That program has been wildly successful. It is not uncommon for 
people to stop and examine the change in their pocket before making a 
transaction, perhaps saving a new quarter out of a pocketful. The 
result has been as much as a five-fold increase in the demand for 
quarters. But the bottom line is that every time someone looks at the 
back of a quarter, they learn something about the State represented.
  At the time the bill was moving through Congress, not everyone was 
convinced that it would be a great success. This skepticism kept us 
from including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the 
territories in the program. Because the program has been a wild 
success, it is appropriate for us to create a sister program for the 
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the territories.
  The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the territories are not 
States, but they are certainly part of the United States' history. In 
the case of the territories, particularly, I know we could all stand to 
learn a little more about them. Therefore, I think it is self-evident 
that this program is a good idea. It creates an entirely separate 
program from the State quarters program, so there is no confusion that 
inclusion somehow confers statehood.
  The gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) may have 
different thoughts about that, but that is the way it had to be done. 
The program would run for 1 year when the other program finished, 
issuing all six quarters in that year, 2009. And if the history of the 
State quarters program is any guide, the D.C. and territories' quarters 
taken out of circulation permanently by collectors would total as much 
as $1 billion which would accrue to the U.S. Treasury in the form of 
money deposited into the general fund.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good program. It is identical to H.R. 5010, 
sponsored in the 106th Congress by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Bachus) and passed by the House 377-6 after a convincing hearing in the 
Committee on Banking and Finance. It is educational, and it would raise 
a little money for the general fund as well. It deserves the support of 
all Members. I urge its immediate passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot help but to appreciate the remark of the 
gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) about the requirement that it be 
understood that this bill not confer statehood. All I can say to the 
gentleman is that I have heard of back-door legislation, but I am sure 
this House knows how to keep the district from becoming a State through 
the back door. Nevertheless, I certainly appreciate all of the 
consideration that has been given to the District for a coin, a bill 
that matters a great deal to the people I represent.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 4005, the 
District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating Quarter 
Dollar Program Act, a bill that would give the District of Columbia and 
the territories a privilege the 50 States already have, namely the 
ability to choose a design for the reverse side of the quarter coin in 
order to commemorate our history as part of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, we have traveled a long road to get to this moment today 
with the generous assistance of each chair and ranking member of the 
committee and the subcommittee. The absence of the District of Columbia 
and the territories drew our attention when the original 50 States 
Commemorative Coin Program Act came to the House floor in the 105th 
Congress. I am grateful to the initiative of the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr. Castle), who has come to manage the bill and was then 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary 
Policy. The gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) immediately agreed to 
cosponsor a bill with the other delegates and with me to allow the 
District and the four insular areas to participate in the program.
  With the gentleman's support, I then introduced a bill to include the 
District and the territories. During the 106th Congress, I again 
introduced the bill; and the new chairman of the subcommittee, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), agreed to lend his support, 
sponsored the bill and took it to the House floor, where it passed 
overwhelmingly by a vote of 377-6 on September 18, 2000.
  Unfortunately, because the bill was passed late in the session, the 
Senate did not act on the bill. That brings us to the current Congress 
and a new chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. King). I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), as 
I thank his predecessors, for introducing the bill and for his 
leadership in bringing the bill to the floor today.
  Also, I want to thank the ranking member of the subcommittee, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), for cosponsoring the bill and 
for her diligent work; and I thank the chairman and ranking member of 
the full committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley) and the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), for their great cooperation in 
helping us with this effort today. Without their leadership, this day 
would not have been possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to reserve my particular gratitude for my 
colleagues, the delegates from the insular areas, who are all 
cosponsors of this bill and who have remained committed to this effort 
from the beginning.
  I must also say a special word of thanks to the excellent staff who 
have worked so diligently on this bill, Joe Pinder of the majority 
staff and Jaime Lizarraga of the minority staff.
  Although the residents of the District of Columbia and the insular 
areas are American citizens, there are some differences between us and 
the States. Qualification to be part of a program to redesign quarters 
to commemorate Members' home districts is not among them. There is no 
legal or constitutional reason why the District and the

[[Page 19291]]

territories cannot be part of a popular commemorative coin program 
created to celebrate the components of our Federal republic to spark 
interest both in the history of this great Nation and in numismatics 
and to raise funds for the Treasury.
  We recognize that Congress always desires to avoid any appearance of 
unfairness, and it is clear that the initial exclusion from the program 
was an oversight. With the passage of this bill, we will correct that 
oversight today.
  H.R. 4005 would extend the 10-year commemorative coin program for an 
additional year to include the District of Columbia and the four 
insular areas, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin 
Islands, as well as the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, in 
the program.
  In the District, I have suggested that we hold a competition to 
choose the design for our quarter. Of course, the bill requires that 
``the Secretary shall not select any frivolous or inappropriate design 
for any quarter dollar minted.'' Although to some American citizens the 
Commemorative Coin Program may seem like a minor activity, the ability 
to participate in this program is important recognition to our 
constituents.
  Despite the fact that in the normal process, it has taken 5 years to 
get to this point today, no damage has been done because the original 
Commemorative Coin Program mandates a 10-year period from minting 
commemorative quarters, according to the date of admission to the 
Union, and, therefore, the Treasury would not have reached the 
districts recognized in this bill at this point in any case.
  We are very pleased by the success of the program. Nineteen States 
already have quarters, all of whom I am certain feel pride in having a 
coin to commemorate their particular characteristics, achievements or 
history as a part of our Nation.
  We also are pleased that this program costs the Treasury nothing, 
but, instead, because of the popularity of the coins, actually brings 
in new money for the government, totaling billions of dollars. Our 
participation will mean even more funds will come to our government.
  D.C. residents carry the flag and wave the flag. We are second per 
capita in Federal income taxes, and we serve in the Armed Forces in 
numbers disproportionately higher than the States. The District, for 
example, had more residents who served in the Gulf War than 47 States 
and more casualties in Vietnam than each of 10 States.
  This coin bill, therefore, may not mean much to the average citizen, 
but it means a great deal to those of us who live in the District of 
Columbia. The commemorative quarter will be a matter of particular 
pride to the residents of the District. We are sensitive to find ways 
to indicate our unity with the 50 States.
  I know I speak for all of the delegates when I say that, as American 
citizens, we would appreciate being acknowledged with a coin of our 
own. We seek only the maximum recognition permissible under law. H.R. 
4005 will afford our residents a sense of particular pride as we join 
other Americans in commemorating our unique contributions to our shared 
history.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues, especially the gentleman 
from Delaware (Mr. Castle) who initiated this effort, for their 
leadership on this bill and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first, with respect to the gentlewoman from the District 
of Columbia (Ms. Norton), she has been working on this tirelessly from 
the beginning of it. In fact, as we were getting started, she came to 
see me and started to talk to me about it. I saw the wisdom after a 
couple of visits and have heartily embraced it ever since. I am glad 
that it is going through the House again, and hopefully we can get it 
through the Senate.
  While we are not exactly providing statehood, we are in no way 
hurting statehood. I think that statehood will be, if anything, 
enhanced by this, and not hurt by it.
  I thank Joe Pinder of the Committee on Financial Services staff. He 
has worked long and hard on these issues. While it is nice to say this 
program has worked so well, there was a great deal of resistance to 
this program at a whole variety of levels, and it took a lot of studies 
and a lot of people having to be convinced before it could work.
  I would like to say finally, on the economics, some people might 
wonder how this makes money. For the millions of people listening on C-
SPAN, I would just point out that it costs about 4 cents to make a 
quarter. And when they are issued eventually by the Federal Reserve to 
the banks, they receive 25 cents for each quarter, so there is a 21-
cent float. And as long as that float is out there, it is money that 
can be used by the Federal Government and is money on which the Federal 
Government does not have to pay interest. In that sense, that money is 
able to be used without having to borrow other money.
  The reality of this program is that all these coins are being 
collected. So it is almost a permanent matter of 21-cent conversion, 
so, as a result, the Treasury has benefited and will continue to 
benefit. We talked about a billion dollars with these six new coins. 
That is probably a correct estimate over some period of time. That is 
the economics of this, in addition to the education aspects of it, and 
another reason why this has been a program which has been so greatly 
successful.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) proved 
prescient in his understanding of how this bill would not only benefit 
this country's Treasury but individual States. In fact, he may well go 
down in history as the Member who almost effortlessly raised billions 
of dollars for the United States Treasury. All he had to do was, with 
the stroke of his pen, bring this bill to the floor, and money began to 
flow into the Treasury.
  As for the people of the District of Columbia, and for the insular 
areas as well, I can say with deep sincerity never has a coin meant so 
much to so few, but that is what it means to us. We are very 
appreciative of the opportunity to be included in this bill.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. Speaker, and with thanks to the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. 
Castle) and to those who worked so hard, the chairman and past chairman 
and ranking members of this committee and subcommittee.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time.
  I thank the gentlewoman for her kind comments, and hopefully we can 
speed this through the Senate as well.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
commend the leadership of Representatives Peter King and Carolyn 
Maloney for their instrumental work in moving this legislation out of 
the Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy, Technology and Economic 
Growth and onto the floor today. I would also like to recognize the 
leadership of my colleagues Representative Mike Castle and Delegates 
Norton, Faleomavaega, Christensen, and Acevedo-Vila, who have worked 
steadily to achieve the same recognition given to the 50 states when 
the Commemorative Coin Program Act was passed in 1997.
  Though it has taken five years to recognize these U.S. jurisdictions, 
I am very pleased that the passage of this legislation would extend 
this program and acknowledge the participation of the District of 
Columbia and the U.S. territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and Puerto 
Rico in the scope of our great nation. Like citizens of other states, 
Americans living in these jurisdictions have served in the armed 
forces, but in numbers disproportionately higher than in the states. 
Both the District and the territories have cultivated generations of 
scholars, athletes, entertainers, and artists, who have added to the 
rich history and diversity of this nation. It may not mean much for the 
average citizen to have a commemorative quarter, but it means a great 
deal to these jurisdictions.
  Since 1998, the United States Treasury has issued five specially 
designed quarters to

[[Page 19292]]

commemorative each state in order of their ratification of the 
Constitution and admission into the Union. To date, there are 19 state 
quarters in circulation, which signify particular characteristics, 
achievement, and history of each state.
  It was hoped that the Commemorative Coin Program would lead the 
American public to appreciate the history of U.S. coinage and generate 
a collective pride among Americans, not only in their home states, but 
also the nation as a whole. It has always been my hope that Congress 
would not forget the history of these jurisdictions. I am proud to note 
that today we can realize the full and rich history of the District of 
Columbia, of my district of Guam, and the four other territories of the 
United States.
  Not very many Americans know that my district of Guam, an island 
approximately 3,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, was also attacked on 
December 7, 1941, the date which marked the United States' entrance 
into World War II. From the time of the attack to the liberation of the 
island on July 21, 1944, Guam has the distinction of being the only 
civilian U.S. jurisdiction to be occupied by the Japanese during the 
war.
  In 1998, Guam marked its 100th anniversary of the commencement of its 
relationship with the United States which resulted from the Spanish-
American War. In 1999, we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 
enactment of the Organic Act of Guam, which granted civilian government 
and U.S. citizenship to the people of Guam. We are the westernmost 
territory of the United States on the opposite side of the 
International Date Line and have the distinction of being the place 
``where America's day begins.'' The passage of this legislation today 
will not only give acknowledgment to the unique circumstances and 
histories of these U.S. jurisdictions, it also pays tribute to 
Americans living in these places who take great pride and provide 
service to the nation but often feel marginalized or left behind 
because they are unable to take part in programs which most other 
Americans enjoy.
  As an original co-sponsor of this legislation and of its predecessor, 
H.R. 5010, I urge my colleagues to unanimously support this very 
important legislation and urge its expeditious passage and enactment.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4005, 
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.
  It should come as no surprise that I am a strong supporter of this 
bill. My colleagues and I have worked for some time to move this 
legislation forward. 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.
  I am now pleased that H.R. 4005 has once again made it to the House 
floor for consideration. I want to thank Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes 
Norton for her leadership and I also want to thank the order Delegates 
who have also worked tirelessly to ensure that this legislation is 
considered.
  Speaking on behalf of American Samoa, I believe it is only fitting 
for Congress to acknowledge our relationship with the United States 
with the issuance of a commemorative coin. American Samoa has a long 
and proud history of supporting the United States. The traditional 
leaders of the island of Tutuila ceded our islands to the United States 
in 1900.
  Tutuila's harbor is the deepest in the South Pacific and the port 
village of Pago Pago was used as a coaling station for U.S. naval ships 
in the early part of the century and as a support base for U.S. 
soldiers during WWII. 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 our war against 
terrorists. 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. 4005 afford us an opportunity to recognize the special 
contributions that the District of Columbia, American samoa, Guam, 
Puerto Rico, and the Northern Marianas have made to the history of our 
Nation. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cantor). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4005.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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