John Marshall Commemorative Coin Act

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2768) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Chief Justice John Marshall, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I do rise in strong support of this legislation, the John Marshall Commemorative Coin Act, authored by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), and urge its immediate passage.

The legislation directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and issue, in 2005, silver one-dollar coins with a design emblematic of Chief Justice John Marshall, denoting the 250th anniversary of that great man's birth. Proceeds from the collection of surcharges on the sale of the coins will go, after matching funds are raised, to benefit the work of the Supreme Court Historical Society.

I would like to note that in addition to the broad bipartisan support for this legislation, in this Chamber and in the other body, we had a rather remarkable witness in the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy at a March hearing on this bill. For the first time in my memory, a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court testified before a committee other than that of the Committee on the Judiciary. Chief Justice Rehnquist gave a learned and enthusiastic presentation on behalf of the legislation.

Madam Speaker, John Marshall, known as ``the Great Chief Justice,'' served as Chief Justice of the United States for 34 years, from 1801 to 1835. Born in the Blue Ridge hills of Virginia, he had little formal education but served as a captain of an artillery company in the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth and spent the winter with General Washington at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War and briefly studied law after the war before being elected a Member of Congress from Virginia. At the time of his appointment as Chief Justice, he was Secretary of State to President Adams.

As Chief Justice Rehnquist reminded us, due mostly to Chief Justice Marshall, the Federal judiciary headed by the Supreme Court is regarded as a coequal branch of the Federal government, but in the first decade of this country the judiciary was much a junior partner.

Chief Justice Marshall is best known as the author of the Court's opinion in the famous case of Marbury v. Madison decided in 1803, known as the fountainhead of all of our present-day constitutional law because it established the doctrine of judicial review, the authority of the Federal courts to declare legislative acts unconstitutional.

Ultimately, Chief Justice Marshall wrote more than 500 opinions and, as Chief Justice Rehnquist reminded us, Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, ``If American law were to be represented by a single figure, skeptic and worshipper alike would agree without dispute that the figure could be one alone, and that one John Marshall.''

Madam Speaker, this legislation is supported by more than 300 bipartisan cosponsors and the full Committee on Financial Services by voice votes. I urge its immediate passage.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, but I would like to do something. The sponsor of the legislation could not be here tonight, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus), and was very interested in being able to speak, and I will submit for the Record those remarks.

Madam Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my time and encourage all of the Members to vote aye in support of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as a sponsor of H.R. 2768, the John Marshall Commemorative Coin Bill. The Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee has recommended that a coin commemorating the 250th anniversary of Chief Justice John Marshall be minted in 2005.

John Marshall's service to United States--not only as Chief Justice, but also as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, as a Member of Congress, and as Secretary of State--truly makes him one of the most unique and important figures in our Nation's history. A commemorative coin in his honor would be a fitting way to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth.

One occasionally hears the expression that an institution is the lengthened shadow of a individual. One would be remiss in suggesting that an institution such as the Supreme Court, an institution that has endured for over 200 years, could be the lengthened shadow of any one individual; but surely if there is one individual who could possibly qualify for such a distinction, it would be John Marshall.

John Marshall served as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835, much of that time spent in this very building, holding the longest tenure of any Chief Justice in the Nation's history. He authored more than 500 opinions, including virtually all of the most important cases that the Court decided during his tenure. Under his leadership, the Supreme Court gave shape to the fundamental principles of the Constitution.

Neither Marshall nor the Court has previously been honored with a commemorative coin. One in his honor would be a fitting way to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. Furthermore, to those concerned with the expense incurred from the creation of this coin, surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of the coins will be paid by the Secretary of Treasury to the Supreme Court Historical Society to support historical research and educational programs about the Supreme Court and the Constitution of the United States; to support fellowship programs, internships, and docents at the Supreme Court; and to collect and preserve antiques, artifacts, and other historical items related to the Supreme Court and the Constitution of the United States. I urge my colleagues to strongly support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I certainly want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) for his eloquent remarks concerning Mr. Marshall.

I rise in support and I am happy to be a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2768, which authorizes the minting and sale of commemorative coins honoring the great Chief Justice John Marshall.

A Virginian, John Marshall served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for 34 years, from 1801 through 1835, which was the longest tenure of any Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Marshall served this country with distinction in all three branches of government. After serving General George Washington as an artillery captain during the Revolutionary War, he studied law and was elected as a Member of Congress from Virginia and was Secretary of State when President John Adams named him Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Marshall is widely regarded as the person who elevated the Supreme Court's status to that of an equal partner with the legislative and executive branches.

In the landmark Marbury v. Madison decision, written 2 years after he became Chief Justice, Marshall laid the legal groundwork for modern-day constitutional law and established the doctrine of judicial review.

Surcharge proceeds from the sale of these coins, which can conservatively be estimated at $1.5 million, are to be paid to the Supreme Court Historical Society. The Society is a nonprofit association dedicated to collecting and preserving the history of the Supreme

Court and to providing public education on the history of the Constitution and the judiciary.

Specifically, the surcharges will be used to enable the Society to support historical research and education programs about the Court and the Constitution and related topics to support fellowship programs, internships, and documents of the Court, and to collect and preserve antiques and artifacts and other historical items related to the Court and the Constitution. John Marshall, a most deserving recognition for a most deserving American.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the resolution we are considering today, H.R. 2768, provides for the minting of a commemorative coin to honor the life and legacy of Chief Justice John Marshall, an important figure in United States history. He was a soldier during the Revolutionary War, a member of Congress, and Secretary of State before serving as chief justice for 34 years, the longest period of any justice in our Nation's history. He authored more than 500 opinions, which helped shape the fundamental principles of the Constitution, most notably the principle of judicial review. His leadership helped set the course for our court to become the powerful and prestigious institution that it is today.

Most Chicagoans recognize the name John Marshall as that of the John Marshall Law School, located in the heart of the city's legal and financial district. This institution has a long and continuous tradition of diversity, innovation and opportunity. Students receive an education that combines an understanding of the theory, the philosophy and the practice of law. Alumni from John Marshall Law School are active participants in local and national politics.

I initially became aware of this bill through alumni of John Marshall Law School. I have since become a strong supporter because not only does it honor Marshall's legacy, but it also has the potential to generate millions of dollars for the Supreme Court Historical Society. I believe the Society is an important tool for all Americans. It helps keep us educated and informed of our Nation's highest court and its activities.

As I spoke to other offices about this legislature, I was pleased to be able to secure an additional 40 cosponsors for this bill, helping to move it forward. However, I am disappointed that it took so long to get it past the House Financial Services Committee, which reported it out on April 27, 2004. I would have liked such a worthy, bipartisan issue to have been brought on the floor for voting much sooner. Nonetheless, I am pleased to be standing here in front of you today and I urge you to support this honorable and worthy legislation.

I rise today in strong support of the resolution to honor the United States' fourth Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall by issuing 400,000 commemorative coins for the 250th anniversary of his birth. Chief Justice Marshall served in each of the three branches of government and, as the fourth Supreme Court Justice, was one of the most influential forces in building the federal government as we know it today.

John Marshall began his service to our country as a member of the Continental Army under George Washington. He fought alongside Washington in battles in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania and endured the harsh winter at Valley Forge. After the war Mr. Marshall became a lawyer and began his political career. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and then to the U.S. Congress as the Representative from the Richmond District in Virginia. His superior understanding of the law earned him the position of Secretary of State under the Adams' Administration. It was from here where he rose to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

It was in the Supreme Court that John Marshall made the greatest contributions to American history. Having served for 34 years, Chief Justice Marshall remains the longest serving Chief Justice. He has offered over 500 opinions and presided over such landmark cases as McCulloch v. Maryland and Marbury v. Madison, which established the power of judicial review and was the first decision to declare an Act of Congress unconstitutional. The opinions delivered from the Marshall Court have shaped the basic fundamentals of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.

I believe that Chief Justice John Marshall's life-long legacy should be recognized. Therefore, I urge my fellow Members to vote with me in support of H.R. 2768 and honor Justice Marshal as one of the most influential figures in American history.