[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 1946-1950]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 392) to provide for a circulating quarter dollar program 
to honor 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. 392

       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 HONORING THE 
                   DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND EACH OF THE 
                   TERRITORIES.

       Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(r) Redesign and Issuance of Circulating Quarter Dollar 
     Honoring 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--
       ``(i) selected by the Secretary after consultation with--

       ``(I) the chief executive of the District of Columbia or 
     the territory being honored, 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; and

       ``(ii) reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
       ``(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) Timing and order of issuance.--Coins minted under 
     this subsection honoring 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, 
     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 
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on this legislation, and to insert extraneous material 
thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.
  Madam Speaker, I urge the House pass H.R. 392, a bipartisan bill 
introduced by the distinguished gentlelady from Washington, D.C., Ms. 
Holmes Norton.
  This legislation simply extends the very popular quarter coin bill to 
honor the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, 
American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands.

                              {time}  1300

  We believe that extending the program will generate the same cultural 
pride in the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories that is done 
in every State across the Nation. When it comes to American history and 
tradition, Washington, D.C., is second to none, and that is why I am 
pleased that the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia has 
introduced this bill.
  Citizens of other territories have made similar contributions and 
sacrifices. They, too, deserve the highest possible recognition and 
equality. That is why, in my opinion, extending the quarter program to 
include the U.S. territories is the least we can do to recognize the 
role that these great peoples and their cultures played in enriching 
American history.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page 1947]]


  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I also rise in support of H.R. 392, the District of Columbia and 
United States Territories Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act. I 
want to thank Chairman Frank, Chairman Gutierrez, and Ranking Member 
Bachus for the Financial Services Committee's support of this 
legislation and for getting this important bill to the floor early in 
the 110th Congress. This is a little bit unusual that we are doing 
early, perhaps early enough to get it done in the Senate as well.
  The legislation before us would extend the popular 50 State Quarter 
project to include coins honoring 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.
  Madam Speaker, the 50 State Quarter legislation has proven to be a 
great success. It has reinvigorated coin collecting, has become an 
invaluable educational tool, and has so far contributed close to $6 
billion to the United States Treasury through seiniorage and the sale 
of products to collectors. With an estimated 140 million Americans 
collecting these coins, the State quarters have become the most popular 
coin program in the United States' Mint history.
  Madam Speaker, expanding the program to include D.C. and the U.S. 
territories will further benefit the taxpayer and educate Americans 
about our Commonwealth. These coins are integral to the history of our 
country and educate children and tourists about the American way of 
life. This bipartisan legislation is supported by the members of the 
Financial Services Committee and has passed the House in every Congress 
since the 106th Congress. I am pleased that we have brought this much-
needed legislation to the floor today and urge my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to join me in supporting the bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who is an 
effective and tireless advocate for the people of Washington, D.C., and 
the author of this bill.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for 
yielding and for his early work on this bill, and I certainly thank the 
gentleman from Delaware, who has worked on this matter with me, which 
now this makes the fifth time. Indeed, this is the fifth time, and I am 
grateful that the House has been willing to come back time and again, 
that we will pass a bill to afford the five insular areas and the 
District of Columbia a quarter bearing a design of their choice on the 
reverse side. Inadvertently these Americans were excluded from the 50 
State bill affording this same right to the States in 1998.
  We owe very special thanks to successive committee and subcommittee 
Chairs and ranking members of the Financial Services Committee. We 
especially appreciate the new chairman, Barney Frank, who reached out 
to us to put this bill for consideration by the House on the early 
suspension calendar.
  Forty States have had their State designs on the reverse side of the 
quarter with four more States to be added before this year is ended. 
All the coins are minted according to the year each State ratified the 
Constitution of the United States or were admitted into the Union.
  Although States have appropriate latitude, there are limitations as 
to what can be used as a design. According to the law, the Secretary of 
Treasury has the final approval of each design. The law gives clear 
guidance as to what is an acceptable design concept. Suitable design 
concepts include State landmarks, historically significant buildings, 
symbols of State resources or industries, official State flora and 
fauna, State icons, and outlines of States. Among the examples of 
suitable coins are many, New York's Statue of Liberty and the like.
  This bill points out the importance of including all Americans in the 
symbols of American citizenship. The residents of the District and of 
the insular areas are full and equal American citizens. To leave them 
out of mere exercises of citizenship is to seem to deny the citizenship 
they revere and share with other Americans. The Americans who live in 
these areas have fought and died in our country's wars and have 
extraordinary records of service, particularly in the Armed Forces, in 
considerably larger numbers than many States. District citizens, in 
addition, pay Federal income taxes.
  We in the Congress all represent proud Americans. There are, of 
course, significant differences between the States and the 
jurisdictions covered by this bill. However, qualification to be part 
of a program of quarter coins to commemorate congressional districts is 
not one of them. Under the Constitution all Americans are equal 
notwithstanding important differences in form, structure, and other 
significant distinctions. Today, by including all Americans, Congress 
avoids any appearance of differential or discriminatory treatment and 
any implication that these areas are colonies, never the intention when 
the five jurisdictions were not included in the original bill in 1998, 
as the House has made clear by repeatedly bringing this bill to the 
floor. Perhaps the other body this time is ready to grant us our 
citizenship.
  Today, when our country is at war and faces unparalleled dangers, 
this bill is yet another example of our unity as Americans and our 
indivisibility in honoring all of our country's citizens. By repeatedly 
passing this measure, the House has made it abundantly clear that we 
are one country, and that our hope is that the Senate will join us.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may 
consume to the distinguished gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno).
  Mr. FORTUNO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
392, the District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating 
Quarter Dollar Program Act, of which I am an original cosponsor. I want 
to thank Chairmen Frank and Gutierrez and Ranking Members Castle and 
Bachus for their leadership on this.
  This bill, introduced by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, whom I 
commend as well, would finally allow the District of Columbia as well 
as Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the 
Northern Mariana Islands the right to choose a design, which would be 
imprinted on the reverse of a quarter. Inadvertently these 
jurisdictions were excluded from the 50 State quarter dollar bill that 
gave each State their own coins in 1998.
  I echo the sentiments of my colleagues. This bill recognizes the 
importance of including all Americans in the symbols of American 
citizenship. I am confident and hopeful that this bill will see swift 
congressional passage and then that the President will imprint his 
signature.
  As Puerto Rico's sole representative in Congress of the almost 4 
million American citizens who reside in Puerto Rico, it is my honor to 
acknowledge the significant contributions which Puerto Rican Americans 
have made to our Nation. In particular, Puerto Ricans have never failed 
in their proud patriotic commitment to their call of duty, defending 
this Nation and its democratic principles. Madam Speaker, Puerto Rican 
Americans have served with honor and distinction in the Armed Forces of 
the United States in all wars and conflicts since 1917 to this day.
  This bill's passage is long overdue. Its enactment would be an 
extremely meaningful way to honor these Puerto Rican Americans. It may 
seem like a small gesture, but our exclusion from this program 
undermines how faithful Puerto Rican Americans have been to this Nation 
and how we revere our citizenship and fellowship with all Americans.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the 
delegate from Washington, D.C. (Ms. Norton) and ask unanimous consent 
that she be permitted to control that time.

[[Page 1948]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Jones of Ohio). Is there objection to 
the request of the gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
the U.S. Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding.
  Madam Speaker, once again the bill to add the quarters representing 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American 
Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the 
U.S. Virgin Islands is before this body for passage.
  And I want to thank Chairman Frank, Ranking Member Castle, and my 
colleagues who have supported this in the past and our colleague 
Eleanor Holmes Norton for her persistence, which I believe is going to 
pay off in this Congress. The holdup in the past has been in the other 
body, but I believe we have a commitment to get it passed this time.
  As often happens in the territories, not usually Washington, D.C., we 
were overlooked and left out when the bill authorizing the coins first 
passed and was signed into law. With the passage today of H.R. 392, we 
will fix that oversight, but I hope we can move to ensure that the 
territories are remembered and considered when any legislation is being 
written.
  We will continue to work to that end, but today my constituents are 
looking forward to displaying an image on our coin that will convey a 
part of our rich history to our fellow Americans and people around the 
world, whether it would be General Budhoe, the slave who led the effort 
that resulted in our emancipation; the three women who are best known 
for having led the labor revolt of 1878; D. Hamilton Jackson, a judge, 
labor leader, champion of the free press, and actually the first 
delegate to Washington on behalf of the Virgin Islands; or any number 
of people or monuments that represent who and what we are when that is 
yet to be decided.
  But, Madam Speaker, with the passage of this bill today, we will have 
begun the process, and the Virgin Islands will be ready to proudly join 
the States in this program.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 392.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
American Samoa.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
H.R. 392, the District of Columbia and United States Territories 
Circulating Quarter Dollar Program Act.
  I want to commend my colleague from the District of Columbia for 
introducing this proposed legislation to include the District of 
Columbia and the territories by amending the 50 States Commemorative 
Coin Program Act that was made law since 1997. I want to commend the 
gentleman from Massachusetts, the chairman of the House Financial 
Services Committee; as well as the ranking member, the gentleman from 
Alabama, for their leadership and support of this legislation. Madam 
Speaker, I also want to especially thank the gentleman from Delaware, 
my esteemed friend, for his unwavering support of this legislation. For 
many years he has worked tirelessly with the sponsor of this bill, and 
I would be remiss if I did not thank the good gentleman from Delaware 
for his commitment to pass this historic legislation.
  This important piece of legislation has been an ongoing issue for the 
past 8 years, Madam Speaker. All five congressional delegates are and 
were original cosponsors of this bipartisan measure. During the 107th 
Congress we introduced H.R. 4005, identical legislation that was 
unanimously passed by the House and was received in the Senate in 2002. 
In the 108th and 109th Congresses, the same legislation was unanimously 
passed with bipartisan support by the House. But, unfortunately, 
Congress adjourned before the Senate could consider the bills.
  Madam Speaker, I am hopeful that we pass H.R. 392 and that the Senate 
will pass this legislation before the 110th Congress adjourns. H.R. 392 
affords us an opportunity to recognize the special contributions of the 
residents of the good people of the District of Columbia and the 
territories.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

                              {time}  1315

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 392, 
the District of Columbia and the United States Territories Circulating 
Quarter Dollar Program Act.
  This bill would authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to provide 
for a circulating quarter dollar coin program to honor 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.
  The Commemorative Coin Program Act was passed, Madam Speaker, in 
1997, and enacted as Public Law 105-124. It authorized the minting of 
50 commemorative coin designs to represent the unique culture and 
history of each respective State. This is an unprecedented program by 
which the design of the United States quarter dollar changes five times 
each year for a 10-year period beginning in January 1999. The 50 States 
are honored under the current program in the order in which they were 
admitted into the Union. This program authorized the first change to 
the quarter since production of the bicentennial quarter in 1975-1976 
and is meant to foster pride among citizens of each State, greater 
appreciation for the diversity of our Nation, and to instill an 
enhanced sense of national unity. By all accounts, Madam Speaker, this 
program has been a resounding success. However, it has excluded the 
territories.
  H.R. 392 represents the fifth consecutive attempt, the fifth 
consecutive attempt to enact legislation to honor the Capital City, 
Washington, D.C., and the U.S. territories by including them in the 50 
State Quarter Program.
  I want to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. 
Norton), who has persevered over all these years to try to get this 
piece of legislation through, and I also thank the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr. Castle) for his continued strong support for the District 
of Columbia and the U.S. territories to be included in this successful 
program.
  I represent Guam, an island approximately 3,500 miles southwest of 
Hawaii. Guam, like the District of Columbia and the other U.S. 
territories, has unique attributes that too few Americans are aware of. 
In fact, it is all too common for Americans to be unaware of or 
misinformed about Guam's relationship with the United States and that 
its residents are duly U.S. citizens. I believe this record should be 
improved, and one way to accomplish this is to authorize the Secretary 
of the Treasury to provide for the circulating quarter dollar coin 
program to honor the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas.
  The bottom line is that every time someone looks at the back of a 
quarter, they learn something about the State represented. Much can be 
learned about Guam and her sister territories and the District. In 
doing so, the curious American will learn more about their wonderful 
country in which they live and more about their fellow Americans with 
whom they share this bountiful land.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, just in closing I thought I would 
reference back to what I said in the opening, and that is that this 
particular program which is known as the 50 State Quarter Program, has 
made a profit, if you want to call it that, through what we call 
seigniorage of about $6 billion for the Federal Government. How can 
that be? It is fairly simple: it costs about a nickel to make a 
quarter, and we essentially sell the quarters, if you will,

[[Page 1949]]

for 25 cents; and that amount of money, that extra money is carried 
over, that 20 cents. And since none of these coins are being basically 
turned in because of all the collecting which is going on, this is 
money which the Federal Government can spend, it is called seigniorage, 
and it has worked out extraordinarily well.
  This program not only honors and recognizes these very important 
entities that have been spoken to by their representatives here today, 
but also provides an opportunity for the Federal Government to continue 
to profit from this program, which will, by the end, end otherwise in 
the year 2008. So I would encourage everybody to vote for it.
  I hope, to the distinguished woman from the District of Columbia, 
that the fifth time is good luck. We have had great luck here in the 
House; it is in the Senate that we seem to struggle a little bit, and 
hopefully we can get it done this time.
  And let me make a point that I think is important. There has been a 
lot in the news lately about a delegate voting bill which some people 
here on the floor may be interested in. This is not that bill, and I am 
not either denigrating or advocating that bill today. But I think it is 
very important to understand what this is: it is just a clear 
recognition of those areas that have been left out of this quarter 
program that many of us think should be brought in and, for that 
reason, are very supportive of this legislation. Hopefully this is a 
bill which both political parties can be very supportive of when the 
time comes to vote on it.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman has 9\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I cannot close without saying a word about 
the spirit in which the gentleman from Delaware has handled this 
matter. What is it, we are told 8 years. It was a quintessential moment 
of bipartisanship.
  I was sitting in my office when the bill came to the floor, and staff 
came in and said the District of Columbia and the territories are not 
included in this coin bill. I ran to the floor and ran over to the 
gentleman. It is understandable, it is called 50 States, that it is 
easy to forget us I guess, and he assured us there had been no 
intention.
  Madam Speaker, I had two choices. One choice was on suspension, as it 
is today, which was simply to ask my side to vote against it and it 
wouldn't have passed on suspension. The other side was to listen to 
what the chairman said, and what he said was that he would put this 
bill again on the floor. He, and for that matter his successor 
committee chairs and subcommittee chairs, has never wavered on putting 
this bill forward. Let us be clear that when we are talking about five 
times, we are talking about, shall we call them, the other body.
  I point this out because I believe we owe the same reciprocal spirit 
of bipartisanship that, sir, you so kindly granted us. The fact is, 
this is such a small matter. That such a small matter can be so hurtful 
may not be understandable to others.
  One way to understand it is the disproportionate service in the Armed 
Forces. I don't know why, but you have only to look at the statistics 
to be stunned by the disproportionate service in our Armed Forces of 
people from the District of Columbia and the insular areas. It is not 
because they during the period of the draft were more often drafted; it 
was a greater willingness to serve.
  I want to say, Madam Speaker, in closing that a virtual unwritten 
rule of this House should be that no distinction not proscribed by laws 
ever be made among American citizens, particularly in the people's 
House. We will all be challenged, I hope shortly, on an entirely 
unrelated bill, not the bill that the gentleman from Delaware spoke of 
that is due to come to the floor on delegate voting, but yet another 
bill, a bill 200 years in the making, 200 painful years of service in 
the Armed Forces, of paying taxes without representation which are 
going to call Congress to account, especially my party, which has 
flooded this floor with statements of belief in the full voting rights 
of the people of the Nation's Capital.
  To his great credit, Representative Tom Davis when he chaired the 
Government Reform Committee discovered a magic opportunity, that is the 
only word for it because it won't come again soon, that the State of 
Utah had barely missed getting a vote in the last census. And he came 
to me and suggested that we put Utah and the District of Columbia 
together just as Alaska and Hawaii came in the Union together, and 
precisely the only way we have increased representation in the House 
and the Senate, and that is through political balance.
  It was an offer we couldn't refuse, but it took us 4 years of my 
negotiating with the Democrats who kept telling me what they wanted and 
Mr. Davis negotiating with Republicans who kept telling them what they 
wanted, and finally we got the bill through the Government Reform 
Committee 15-14. This is such an extraordinary bipartisan vote on a 
controversial bill, 15 Democrats, 14 Republicans voting for the bill, 
the Davis-Norton bill for a House vote. Not a vote in both Houses, my 
friends, a vote in the people's House, went to the Judiciary Committee, 
additional requirements made, they were fulfilled by the State of Utah.
  Here, we have the most Republican State in the Union and a big city 
normally Democratic who come forward together, who are literally joined 
at the hip together, and say regrettably, although we thank the other 
side who took this almost to the floor, through two committees, didn't 
get it to the floor, my party has an obligation written in miles of 
rhetoric, written in their platform over many decades to bring the bill 
for the full vote for the residents of the District of Columbia to this 
floor.
  I congratulate my colleagues on the other side who almost brought us 
home. Now, the challenge is to those who got up and pointed their 
finger at the other side about not doing enough, the finger is now 
pointed at us and the time has come. While this bill has nothing to do 
with that, if you represent the District of Columbia, if you were 
second per capita in Federal income taxes, if you had gone to Arlington 
during this war, if you had sat in churches during this war, then you 
would understand that any opportunity to remind this Congress, 
including my side, that the moment of truth has come and it has got to 
come in the 110th Congress for a seat for the District of Columbia this 
year. Meanwhile, we begin with an entirely noncontroversial ``yes'' 
symbolic bill. Let this bill pass the House.
  I thank the Speaker, and I particularly thank my good colleagues for 
persevering with us. I hope we have set the tone for the 110th 
Congress.
  Mr. BACHUS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 392, the 
District of Columbia and United States Territories Circulating Quarter 
Dollar Program Act, introduced by the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia, Ms. Norton.
  We are all aware of the popularity of the 50-State quarter program, 
which will continue through 2008. The Treasury has benefited from more 
than $6 billion worth of quarters taken out of circulation by serious 
and amateur collectors alike.
  The gentleman from Delaware, Mr. Castle, deserves great credit for 
the State quarters program. He came up with the idea, worked tirelessly 
through two Congresses, and brought the Treasury Department on board 
back in the mid-1990s.
  H.R. 392 would establish a quarters program for the District of 
Columbia and U.S. territories in 2009, after the 50-State program runs 
its course. This is actually the fifth Congress in which we've tried to 
pass this program. I managed consideration of the bill in the House in 
September 2000. It has passed the House in every succeeding Congress, 
but has never been taken up--even at the committee level--in the other 
body.
  The quarters program has immense educational value. Teachers prepare 
lesson plans based on each new quarter, and parents save them and 
discuss them with their children. H.R. 392 is a way to recognize the 
contributions made to the United States by people from the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico and the territories.

[[Page 1950]]

  Madam Speaker, this is good legislation, and I am glad we are taking 
it up as one of the first bills from the Financial Services Committee 
in the 110th Congress. This is bipartisan legislation, as much of the 
work product of the committee has been since I came to Congress, and I 
look forward to continuing that tradition with the new chairman, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Frank. I only hope that this time, 
the legislation will win full congressional approval and be sent to the 
President for his signature.
  Madam Speaker, I welcome this bill and urge its immediate adoption.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 392, which requires the Circulating Quarter Dollar Coin 
Program to honor 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.
  Madam Speaker, you will recall that in 1999, the United States Mint 
began circulating quarters in commemoration of each of the 50 States. 
The coin honoring my great State of Texas was issued in 2004. The coin, 
featuring the Lone Star of Texas, is the 28th in the series and 
commemorates Texas' admission to the Union as the 28th State on 
December 29, 1845.
  To date, Mr. Speaker, 40 of the 50 State coins have been circulated. 
I look forward to seeing the last 10 States honored with their own 
special quarter-dollar coin.
  Unfortunately, the beautiful city in which we stand today, our 
Nation's capital, has been thus far denied the opportunity to 
commemorate its vital importance as a part of our union, with a 
quarter-dollar coin of its own. Likewise, the United States territories 
have not had the opportunity to commemorate their important role in our 
nation. H.R. 392 would change this regrettable state of affairs.
  I thank the delegate from the District of Columbia, Ms. Norton, for 
introducing this legislation and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of 
it. I am, however, saddened that she herself cannot cast a vote in 
favor of this bill since she is not yet permitted a vote on the floor 
of the House or in the Committee of the Whole. I am optimistic that the 
new Democratic majority in this House will grant elected delegates the 
right to vote in the Committee of the Whole at the earliest possible 
opportunity. I remain a strong supporter of H.R. 328, the District of 
Columbia Fair and Equal Voting Rights Act of 2007, which will give the 
representative for the District of Columbia a full, fair, and equal 
vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.
  As a supporter of freedom, democracy, and equality, I believe that it 
is long overdue for the citizens of the District of Columbia to have a 
representative in Congress who can vote on the vital legislation 
considered in this august body. It is wrong, Madam Speaker, that the 
citizens of the District of Columbia, who after all pay taxes to the 
United States, serve in the Armed Forces, and are subject to the laws 
and jurisdiction of the United States, are denied a vote in the body 
that imposes those taxes, raises and maintains the Armed Forces, and 
makes the laws that each of us must obey. Similarly, we cannot deny the 
territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, 
and the Northern Mariana Islands the right to have a vote in Congress. 
Doing so denies the important relationships of these territories to our 
Nation and diminishes the contributions of their people to our country.
  In light of this unfortunate situation, I commend the delegate from 
our Nation's Capital for introducing H.R. 392, to show the people of 
the United States capital and territories that we do indeed honor them. 
I urge my colleagues to pay tribute to them by voting in favor of this 
legislation to establish a quarter dollar coin program in their 
commemoration.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 392.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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