James A. Leach: “Mr. Speaker, at issue with American coinage and currency is the need for stability and confidence, combined with the…”

“Mr. Speaker, at issue with American coinage and currency is the need for stability and confidence, combined with the need for keeping up with the times. This bipartisan legislation, largely the work of the gentleman from Delaware [Mr. Castle] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Flake], chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Domestic International Monetary Policy, uniquely is designed to maintain continuity by keeping George Washington on one side of the quarter, while celebrating American history, and particularly that of her 50 States, in new ways on the reverse side. The legislation provides an opportunity for artistic expressions from our citizenry; it celebrates State history in an uplifting way; and it allows for collectors to collect all 50 quarters for only $12.50. Not only is this exciting approach educational, indeed fun, but the Government projects that the program will produce interest savings on the debt of between $2.6 and $5.1 billion. I know of very few bills ever brought before Congress in which one can find a more unique combination of circumstance: a celebration of history, an exercise in artistic expression, and multibillion dollar savings to the Federal Government. This modest modification of our coinage could not be more in the public interest.”