[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 27335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




2007 COMMEMORATIVE COINS: LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DESEGREGATION 
                    AND JAMESTOWN 400TH ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, public attention 50 years ago, in 1957, was 
on Little Rock, Arkansas. Everyone in the United States knew of the 
events that were going on at Little Rock Central High School and in the 
streets surrounding Little Rock Central High School.
  Now this year we celebrate the courage of the Little Rock Nine. Now 
this year, 2007, we commemorate those events, the desegregation of 
September 25, 1957, very much aware of the work that we have to do in 
race relations.
  As part of the honoring of these events and the honoring of the 
courage of the brave Little Rock Nine, this Congress passed a 
commemorative coin bill. We authorize 2 commemorative coins each year. 
The commemorative coin I want to show the Members, it is a beautiful 
coin. Now, the real coin is not this big. It's a silver dollar. It is a 
commemorative coin. While it is legal tender, you would not want to use 
it for legal tender because it costs substantially more than a dollar.
  This is the one side. Each star honors one of the Little Rock Nine, 
the 9 stars. And these footprints show young people going to school 
with no other desire than to get an education. And it says: 
``Desegregation in Education, 2007, In God We Trust.''
  On the other side of the coin is the Little Rock Central High School 
itself, one of the most beautiful high schools in the United States, 
and it is noted there: ``Little Rock Central High School.''
  Now, the reason I show this coin to the Members on the floor tonight 
is this coin is currently available for sale at the U.S. Mint, 
usmint.gov. And for those of you who need some help, go to usmint.gov 
and then go to the section that says ``Coins and Medals'' and click on 
that and click on ``Commemoratives,'' and you can find out how to order 
this beautiful coin.
  Also available at usmint.gov is the other 2007 coin that was brought 
by the late Representative Jo Ann Davis, a much beloved Member of this 
body who recently passed away. That coin honors the 400th anniversary 
of the founding of Jamestown in 1607.
  So we have two wonderful commemorative coins: this one honoring the 
desegregation of Little Rock Central High School by the Little Rock 
Nine in 1957 and the 400th anniversary of Jamestown.
  Now, what many people may not realize is $10 of every sale of each 
coin goes to support these historic sites, and that is why I am down 
here tonight, Mr. Speaker, encouraging people to go to usmint.gov and 
order these coins to tell the legacy, to pass a legacy on, to tell the 
stories. They make wonderful holiday gifts this year, but they also 
just make wonderful gifts from people to younger people to remember the 
legacy and the courage of the Little Rock Nine, usmint.gov.
  I also want to acknowledge this evening in Little Rock, Arkansas, the 
presence of Kevin Klose, the present president of National Public 
Radio. Right now he is at a reception at the home of Don and Suzanne 
Hamilton in Little Rock, Arkansas. They are my neighbors across the 
street. They are great members of the Friends of KLRE/KUAR. 
Unfortunately, I can't be there. I believe my wife is ill and can't be 
there. But I wish them well and welcome Kevin Klose to Arkansas.

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