Steve Israel: “Mr. Speaker, I am honored to manage time on the Keep Monticello on the Nickel Act, legislation that preserves the…”

“Mr. Speaker, I am honored to manage time on the Keep Monticello on the Nickel Act, legislation that preserves the portrait of Monticello on the nickel. All Americans are familiar with the role that Thomas Jefferson played in our Nation's founding. Jefferson was the third President of the United States, the author of the Declaration of Independence, and the founder of the University of Virginia. One of the foremost intellectuals in American history, Jefferson produced many of his finest writings at Monticello, his picturesque mansion outside of Charlottesville; and it is appropriate that we preserve the mansion on our Nation's coinage. Our distinguished colleague from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) has put forward a plan to mint to commemorate the plans of Lewis and Clark for 3 years and revert to the Monticello for 2006. That is a reasonable compromise. We support the Cantor legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it.”