Political Quotes

“I am introducing, for myself and for the senior Senator from Oregon, the Library of Congress Commemorative Coin Act, in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the Library of Congress, which will occur in the year 2000. Established in 1800, the Library of Congress is our Nation's oldest national cultural institution and has become the largest repository of recorded knowledge in the world. It stands as a symbol of the vital connection between knowledge and democracy. The Library of Congress Commemorative Coin Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to issue, in year 2000, 500,000 silver dollars and 500,000 half dollar coins commemorating the anniversary. The proceeds of the sale of the coins will support not only the observance of the bicentennial of the Library's creation, but also digitization projects that will share the resources of the Library with the Nation's schools and libraries. James Madison said 'Learned institutions ought to be the favorite objects of every free people.' This bill commemorates the fact that the Library of Congress for two centuries has fulfilled James Madison's hope by dispensing the light of knowledge over the Congress, the Nation, and the world.”