Senators press Treasury for answers on plans for Tubman $20 - EUROPE SAYS
Democratic senators are pushing the Treasury Department for answers after its secretary, Scott Bessent, revealed it had abandoned plans to place Harriet Tubman’s image on the new $20 bill, Spectrum News has. . .
Democratic senators are pushing the Treasury Department for answers after its secretary, Scott Bessent, revealed it had abandoned plans to place Harriet Tubman’s image on the new $20 bill, Spectrum News has learned. What You Need To KnowDemocratic senators are pushing the Treasury Department for answers after Secretary Scott Bessent revealed earlier this month it had abandoned plans to put Harriet Tubman’s image on the new $20 bill, Spectrum News has learnedOn Thursday, 10 Democratic senators sent a letter to Bessent requesting an explanation of those comments, “including what factors informed the decision and whether the redesign has been permanently canceled or merely delayed”“While we acknowledge the creation of a new currency note is a multi-year process involving design, counterfeit protection and implementation into our financial system, the administration has released plans for a $250 bill depicting President Trump to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, a currency that would be illegal for the Treasury Department to issue under current law,” the letter saysPresident Barack Obama’s treasury secretary, Jack Lew, announced the planned redesign of the $20 bill in 2016 to honor Tubman, but it remains stalledIn an interviewearlier this monthwith Spectrum News, Bessent said his department was “not at present” planning to put Tubman on the $20 bill, an effort that was over a decade in the making. He did not elaborate further. On Thursday, 10 Democratic senators sent a letter to Bessent requesting an explanation of those comments, “including what factors informed the decision and whether the redesign has been permanently canceled or merely delayed. ”“While we acknowledge the creation of a new currency note is a multi-year process involving design, counterfeit protection and implementation into our financial system, the administration has released plans for a $250 bill depicting President Trump to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, a currency that would be illegal for the Treasury Department to issue under current law,” the senators wrote. “You also released plans for multiple coins featuring President Trump’s likeness for the semiquincentennial. “If the administration is actively working on new currency notes, the administration should focus on the long-standing plan to feature Harriet Tubman rather than develop a new design,” they continued. The senators requested a briefing on the matter from Bessent no later than Aug. 12. The letter was led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N. H. , and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. Shaheen has been introducinglegislationsince 2015 to put Tubman on the $20 bill, while Van Hollen represents Tubman’s home state. The abolitionist was born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, and led dozens of enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Joining Shaheen and Van Hollen on the letter were Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. ; Maggie Hassan, D-N. H. ; Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. ; Adam Schiff, D-Calif. ; Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md. ; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. ; Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. “Honoring Harriet Tubman on our nation’s currency is an important recognition of her legacy and we urge you to reconsider,” the senators wrote. President Barack Obama’s treasury secretary, Jack Lew, announced the planned redesign of the $20 bill in 2016 to honor Tubman, who is credited with conducting 13 missions on the Underground Railroad to free approximately 70 slaves. The initial plan was to have the new bill enter circulation in 2020. President Donald Trump’s first administration delayed the redesign until at least 2026, citing the need to incorporate new anti-counterfeiting technology into it. When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, the White House press secretary said the Tubman bill was a priority. The date of its planned debut, however, slipped again, to 2030. Earlier this year, Shaheen expressed her frustration at the lack of movement on the matter in an interview with Spectrum News. “It hasn’t been a priority for any of our male presidents,” alleged Shaheen. “It was not a priority for Barack Obama, even though he announced and started moving it forward. Joe Biden said, ‘I will get this done by the end of my term. ’ Didn’t get done. And now President Trump seems to be more interested in putting himself on a gold coin and putting a signature on our currency than on making sure that women are represented. ”A spokesperson for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing said earlier this year that an updated $20 bill was still expected in 2030.