Earl Pomeroy: “I am delighted to be able to participate in this discussion. I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I also thank…”

“I am delighted to be able to participate in this discussion. I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I also thank the gentlewoman for struggling with the Hidatsa pronunciation of Sakakawea, when most across the Nation learned the Shoshone pronunciation Sacajawea. I think the sensitivity you showed to our feelings that it is the Hidatsa pronunciation that ought to be applicable is really representative of the kind of sensitivity you have shown to our concerns throughout this entire matter. As far as that goes, I want to really commend my colleague from Delaware, Mike Castle. I commend also the ranking member, Barney Frank, for taking what was clearly set up to be a win-lose proposition, with the losers being those who really are proud of the Sakakawea coin, a coin representing the first Native American woman ever to grace a United States coin, a coin that we think also reflects honor and celebration of the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition which opened up the north and west, and so we felt very strongly that the Mint had made the right decision moving the dollar coin forward with Sakakawea, and we were concerned about this coming to an end. As we worked this through, this win-lose proposition became something that I now view much more favorably as a win-win proposition.…”