Congresswoman Beatty Challenges Inexplicable Delay of Harriet Tubman on the New Twenty

Statement

Yesterday, Department of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced that the new $20 featuring famous abolitionist Harriet Tubman would be delayed until at least 2026. In response, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement:

"As lead sponsor of the Woman on the Twenty Act in the 114th Congress and Chairwoman of the Financial Services Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, I strongly oppose the Trump Administration's ill-advised decision to indefinitely delay the release of the new $20 bill. Over three years ago, I worked directly with the Department of Treasury to plan the release of the new $20 design featuring Harriet Tubman--coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The new $20 is desperately needed, as the last new design occurred more than a century ago, and was determined by the American people to better reflect the diversity of our great country. That is why I will continue to use every tool in my power to get a woman on the twenty and that Harriet Tubman finds her rightful place on our nation's currency."

Beatty has fought throughout her time in Congress to secure a woman on our nation's currency. In June 2015, she introduced the Woman on the Twenty Act, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to create a citizens' panel to recommend a woman to be placed on a $20 bill. Several weeks later, she spoke from the House Floor in support of putting Harriet Tubman on the new $20. The following April, Beatty wrote a letter to former Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew calling on the Department to fast track the new note and have it in circulation by 2020. Then in 2017, Beatty wrote Mnuchin urging him to recommit to the redesign of the twenty-dollar bill featuring Harriet Tubman.

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