The Official Website of Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo

Guam to Get a Commemorative Quarter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE— December 20, 2007– Washington, D.C. –

Yesterday, Congress passed legislation authorizing the minting and circulation of commemorative quarters for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. The provision was included in the 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which is expected to be signed into law by the President.

These jurisdictions were not included in the 50 state commemorative quarter coin program initiated in 1998. State quarters began circulating in 1999 in the order they were admitted into the union. The program was slated to end next year. About 30 billion coins have been minted thus far.

Congresswoman Bordallo has joined with her colleagues from the territories and the District of Columbia in sponsoring legislation in the House of Representatives to provide for quarters honoring each of the territories and the District of Columbia. Although the bills passed the House in each of the previous Congresses in which they were introduced, they failed to pass in the Senate.

“We been working for years to have the territories and the District of Columbia included in the commemorative quarter program and our success yesterday was built on years of effort by the Delegates from the territories and the Delegate from the District of Columbia. This is exciting and I believe that the Guam quarter will be a great way to showcase our island,” Congresswoman Bordallo said.

Under the existing program, the local government is tasked with submitting a design for the back of the commemorative quarter, which must be approved by the U.S. Mint. The new quarters will be minted in 2009.

“There are many ways to depict Guam’s unique culture and history. I hope that the design process will include the best ideas from our local artists. The most interesting question during the holidays might be, ‘What would you put on the back of the Guam quarter?’” Congresswoman Bordallo added.

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Contact: Joseph E. Duenas in Washington, D.C. at 202-225-1188 or Cathy Gault at 671-477-4272/4

joseph.duenas@mail.house.gov or cathy.gault@mail.house.gov

www.house.gov/bordallo

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