Resolution urging President Barack Obama to issue an Executive Order to the United States Treasury to put a woman on the twenty dollar bill by 2020, marking the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, and also calling upon the Secretary of the United States Treasury to support, and the Congress of the United States to pass S. 925 and H.R. 1910, the Woman on the Twenty Act, to replace Andrew Jackson on the twenty dollar bill with a woman who has played a prominent role in United States history.

Res. No. 686

Resolution urging President Barack Obama to issue an Executive Order to the United States Treasury to put a woman on the twenty dollar bill by 2020, marking the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, and also calling upon the Secretary of the United States Treasury to support, and the Congress of the United States to pass S. 925 and H.R. 1910, the Woman on the Twenty Act, to replace Andrew Jackson on the twenty dollar bill with a woman who has played a prominent role in United States history.

By Council Members Chin, Crowley, Cumbo, Barron, Mendez, Rosenthal, Rose, Palma, Gibson, Koslowitz, Ferreras-Copeland, Cabrera, Johnson, Lander, Levin and Richards.

                     Whereas, S.925 and H.R. 1910 have been introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Congressman Luis Guitierrez of Illinois, respectively; and

Whereas, This legislation would convene a panel of citizens to recommend a woman whose likeness would be featured on a new twenty dollar bill; and

                     Whereas, According to a press release from Senator Shaheen,“our paper currency is an important part of our everyday lives and reflects our values, traditions and history as Americans”; and                     

Whereas, Senator Shaheen goes on to note that “it’s long overdue for that reflection to include the contributions of women”; and

Whereas, As Congressman Guitierrez notes, “ Women led us out of slavery on the Underground Railroad, taught us what the phrase ‘all men are created equal’ really means by fighting for civil rights, and have led in all sectors in society”; and

Whereas, As Congressman Guitierrez further informs, “A woman’s place is in the boardroom, chairing the committee, in the laboratory, in the Oval Office, and yes, even on our currency”; and

Whereas, There are currently no women or people of color on United States currency; and

Whereas, The group Women on 20s has begun the W20 Campaign (W20), and they initiated an online ballot which has generated votes from more than 600,000 voters in two rounds for a number of inspiring women candidates to be portrayed on the twenty dollar bill; and 

Whereas, The current result of the W20 Campaign’s online ballot is for the Treasury Department to put Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks or the famous female Native American Chief Mankiller on a revised twenty dollar bill; and

Whereas, W20 hopes to make the change by the year 2020, which marks the 100^th anniversary of the passage of the 19^th Amendment giving women the right to vote; and

                     Whereas, According to Senator Shaheen, the portraits on the seven main bill denominations have not changed in nearly a century and were chosen by a panel of citizens in the 1920’s;  now, therefore, be it resolved that

The City of New York urges President Barack Obama to issue an Executive Order to the United States Treasury to put a woman on the twenty dollar bill by 2020, marking the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, and  also calling upon the Secretary of the United States Treasury to support, and the Congress of the United States to pass S. 925 and H.R. 1910, the Woman on the Twenty Act, to replace Andrew Jackson on the twenty dollar bill with a woman who has played a prominent role in United States history.

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4/20/15