Posted at 1:39 a.m., Friday, January 12, 2007
Commemorative quarters sought for territories
Associated Press
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) — Nonvoting delegates to Congress hope the eighth time proves the charm as they push for a commemorative quarters program honoring the U.S. territories.
For they eighth year in a row they have introduced legislation to create the program to honor American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa's delegate Eni H. Faleomavaega said Thursday in a news release.
The House has approved the bill a number of times, but the Senate hasn't considered it.
The program would be similar to the U.S. Mint's 50 States Commemorative Coin Program that was implemented in 1997. State quarters are issued in the order in which the states ratified the Constitution and joined the Union.
As the 50th State, Hawaii's quarter will be the last in the program to be minted. It is expected to be released in the fall of 2008.
"We feel strongly that it is only fitting for Congress to acknowledge the contributions of the territories and District of Columbia with a commemorative coin as has been done for the 50 states," Faleomavaega said.
"There is no question about the commitment of our people to the United States and the principles of democracy upon which our great nation is founded," he said. "Our men and women have fought and sacrificed their lives in every major war and conflict in defense of those principles."
Faleomavaega, a Democrat, said he was hopeful the bill will make its way through Congress now that it is controlled by his party.
