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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 14, 2019 11:29 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Rosita C. Youngblood |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Urging United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to place Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill |
| In 2015 the United States Treasury Department announced a plan to place a woman on a currency note during a redesign process of the $20, $10, and $5 bills, and asked for Americans to share their opinions on the matter. Over one million people weighed in and hundreds of suggestions were made to then Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew. Along with the decision to honor both the civil rights and women’s suffrage movements through depictions on the back of both the $10 and $5 bills, Harriet Tubman was chosen to appear on the front of the redesigned $20 bill, which was to be introduced in circulation in 2020. As many of us know, Harriet Tubman was an American heroine who, after freeing herself from slavery, assisted hundreds of other slaves by helping them escape and leading them to the safety of the northern states through the Underground Railroad. Once the Civil War began, she continued her fight by working for the Union Army as a cook, nurse, scout and spy and, once the war was over, she again persisted and became a leader in the women’s suffrage movement. The American people were correct in their decision – it is only fitting to honor this exceptional, brave individual by placing her picture on a currency note. However, the current Unites States Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, has recently announced a delay in the plan to make this happen citing the development of public security measures. According to the experts, the delay appears arbitrary and unnecessary. That being said, please join me in sponsoring this important legislation urging United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, along with President Donald Trump and the United States Congress, to continue with the original plan to place Harriet Tubman on the redesigned $20 bill by 2020. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office at 717-772-9920. Thank you in advance for your consideration. |
Introduced as HR433