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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Dockwalliper, post: 308931, member: 392&quot;]Didn&#039;t find the bill number yet but did find this.</p><p><a href="http://serrano.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1497" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://serrano.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1497" rel="nofollow">http://serrano.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1497</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>SERRANO INCLUDES STATE QUARTER PROVISION FOR TERRITORIES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p>Chairman José E. Serrano announced today that he included a provision in the omnibus government appropriations bill to direct the U.S. Mint to issue quarters for Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia in 2009.</p><p><br /></p><p>“When I realized that the ‘state quarters’ program had left out millions of people in the territories and DC, I decided I would have to correct that oversight,” Serrano said. “Fortunately, I was able to include language in my portion of the omnibus government spending bill to direct the Mint to issue these coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>“While these are not states, their people live under our flag, and deserve our respect. Too often it is ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for these territories and D.C. Instead we should be honoring them for their contributions to the United States. Our nation would not be what it is today without their contributions to the national defense, the arts, music, politics, science, and sports. </p><p><br /></p><p>“This program will raise awareness of the various status issues, which I believe is a good thing for our country. We should know about all of the people living under our flag. Many people don’t know much about these places, and helping to prompt some learning will be a positive thing. </p><p><br /></p><p>“Our nation was founded with a national creed based on equality. By treating the territories and D.C. as fairly as possible, we are working to apply our national principle of equality for all. Issuing quarters honoring these diverse places is a small step towards the respect they deserve, but we must take advantage of any opportunity to take such measures. I look forward to seeing the designs they choose to represent them on their quarters.”</p><p><br /></p><p>###</p><p><br /></p><p>Congressman José E. Serrano is Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which oversees the budget of the U.S. Mint among other agencies.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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