Student Privacy Protection Act of 2009

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include, for historical purposes, information about American Samoa's Commemorative Quarter.

[Press Release, Mar. 25, 2004]

House Passes Bill To Provide American Samoa With a Commemorative

Quarter

Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that by a vote of

411 to 14 the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 2993, a bill

to provide for a circulating quarter dollar coin program to

commemorate American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam,

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana

Islands.

In general, this legislation would amend the popular 50

States Commemorative Coin Program Act to include 6 new

designs emblematic of the District of Columbia, American

Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the

Northern Mariana Islands. Designs on the reverse side of each

quarter dollar issued during 2009 will be selected by the

Secretary of Treasury in consultation with the chief

executive officers of these areas, Congressman Faleomavaega

said.

All five delegates are and were original co-sponsors of

this bi-partisan measure. This measure was first introduced

in the 106th Congress and passed overwhelmingly in the House

by a vote of 377-6. Unfortunately, the 106th Congress ended

before the Senate was able to consider our bill. During the

107th Congress, identical legislation (H.R. 4005) passed the

House and was received in the Senate in October of 2002. Once

again, the Senate was unable to consider this matter before

the 107th Congress adjourned.

Now, we have introduced H.R. 2993 and we are hopeful that

the House and Senate will pass this legislation before the

108th Congress adjourns. At this time, I want to thank

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for her leadership and I

also want to thank the other Delegates who have also worked

tirelessly to ensure that this legislation is considered,

Congressman Faleomavaega said.

It is only fitting for Congress to acknowledge the

Territories relationship with the United States. Speaking on

behalf of American Samoa, we have a long and proud history of

supporting the United States. The traditional leaders of the

islands of Tutuila and Aunuu ceded our islands to the United

States in 1900. Four years later, the King of Manua and his

chiefs ceded the Manua Islands.

In the early part of the century, the port village of Pago

Pago was used as a coaling station for U.S. naval ships.

During WWII, it was used as a support base for U.S. soldiers.

To this day, American Samoa serves as a refueling point for

U.S. naval ships and military aircraft.

American Samoa also has a per capita enlistment rate in the

U.S. military which is as high as any State or U.S.

Territory. Our sons and daughters have served in record

numbers in every U.S. military engagement from WWII to

present operations in Iraq. We have stood by the United

States in good times and bad and I believe this relationship

should be acknowledged with the issuance of a commemorative

coin.

H.R. 2993 affords us an opportunity to recognize the

special contributions that American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico,

the Northern Marianas and the District of Columbia have made

to the history of our Nation. I thank my colleagues for

voting in favor of this legislation and I urge the Senate to

also support our cause, the Congressman concluded.