Financial Services And General Government Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 28, 2007)

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Mr. WICKER. I thank the chairman.

Mr. Chairman, this is a rather straightforward and simple amendment. It would simply restore to the face, or the obverse, of the dollar coin, the new dollar coin that is being minted now, the words ``In God We Trust'' and ``E Pluribus Unum.''

``In God We Trust'' is the current national motto and has been our motto since 1956. ``E Pluribus Unum'' was actually suggested by the Congress to be on the seal of the United States of America as early as 1776. These two phrases have been a part of who we are and what we are about for as long as almost anyone within the sound of my voice can remember.

Now, I have in my hand here a United States quarter. On one side, it has ``In God We Trust.'' You turn it over, and this happens to be one of the new quarters featuring a State, it happens to be Rhode Island, but still there's room on the other side of that coin for the term ``E Pluribus Unum''--out of many, one people, as I say, a very significant phrase about who we are as a people.

You take the dollar coin, Mr. Speaker, and there's a picture of George Washington on the front, there is a likeness of the Statue of Liberty on the back, but if you're looking for the words ``E Pluribus Unum'' or ``In God We Trust,'' it's not on either side. In order to find that, you have to look at the very edge of the coin and you have to get the light just right and there it is on the edge of the coin.

I think most people would agree with me, Mr. Chairman, in saying they would like to have these significant phrases returned to a position of prominence on the coin. Whether by design or by accident, whether purposely or unintentionally, the fact that these two important mottos are on the edge of the coin, I think it puts them in a less prominent place, and I think most Americans would appreciate it if we put them back where they should be.

With that, I would urge an ``aye'' vote on the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. WICKER. Would the gentleman yield on that point so that can be cleared up?

Mr. SERRANO. I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi.

Mr. WICKER. By designating that the part of the dollar coin statute that says it should be edged onto the edge of the coin, by removing that, we revert back to the original statute under which we've been governed all along, which has all of the coins from the half dollar down to the penny with ``E Pluribus Unum'' and ``In God We Trust.''

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Mr. WICKER. My friend the gentleman from New York says there's the possibility that we might do something unintentional here. Really this is quite clear. And Members voting on this in a few moments should understand that it's quite clear. If you feel that ``In God We Trust'' ought to be put in a place of prominence on the dollar coin, you'll vote ``yes'' for the amendment. If you feel that the all inclusive phrase ``E Pluribus Unum'' should be put back on the dollar coin in a place where it can actually be read by people using it in commerce, then you should vote for the Wicker amendment.

If there is a question on interpretation, if there is this possibility that the chairman mentions, certainly that can be cleared up. This amendment has a little farther to go. The Senate may take up the appropriation bills. At some point we will have to come to some sort of agreement between the House and Senate on how to fund the Treasury and the departments dealt with in this appropriation bill.

I say the issue is clear. If you want ``In God We Trust'' on the dollar coin, it's a very simple question. Vote ``aye'' on the Wicker amendment.

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