[Pages H851-H855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the 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

[[Page H852]]

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.
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,

[[Page H853]]

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.
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 asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
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

[[Page H854]]

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, 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.

[[Page H855]]

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.
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.

____________________