[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 64 (Thursday, April 30, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H2660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PUT A WOMAN ON THE TWENTY ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, what would it be like if the Chamber and 
this government reflected the diversity of the American people? There 
would be a lot more portraits of women alongside all the portraits of 
committee chairmen of the past decades.
  In 2015, it wouldn't be newsworthy when a competent, intelligent 
person who happens to be African American is hired for a job for which 
she is supremely qualified, which happened this week when Loretta Lynch 
was sworn in as our 83rd Attorney General. We wouldn't still be talking 
about unequal pay for equal work.
  I believe that, if there is a country that truly believes in 
equality, that it is time to put our money where our mouths are, 
literally, and express that sense of justice on the most widely used 
currency in international transaction.
  Last week, I introduced the Put a Woman on the Twenty Act to build on 
the grassroots campaign known as Women on 20s, working to bring gender 
equality to our currency. Their public campaign has garnered more than 
half a million votes in support of putting a woman on a $20 bill. I 
loved the idea, and it was brought to me by a smart, young woman on my 
staff, Kate Johnson. To me, this isn't just a women's issue; it is an 
American issue.
  My bill simply directs the Secretary of the Treasury to convene a 
panel of citizens to solicit recommendations from the public for a 
woman to be placed on the $20 bill. Women have inspired generations of 
Americans for their courage by challenging this Nation to protect the 
civil rights of all Americans.
  Women have advocated for voting rights and equal protection under the 
law and for programs that serve the most vulnerable members of our 
communities. 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 women's suffrage and civil rights and have led in all 
sectors in society.
  When I go to the bank, when I use an ATM, when I travel overseas, the 
$20 bill is already widely used and in the purses and wallets of 
hundreds of millions of Americans. We all know that the almighty dollar 
speaks; but what if it had a woman's voice?
  Consider for a moment the powerful message that would be sent to a 
young girl in Chicago if she saw a portrait celebrating Rosa Parks or 
Harriet Tubman when she reached into her wallet to make a purchase. 
What about the young man in a country far away who maybe is still 
hearing damaging messages about the role of women in his country?
  The portrait of Wilma Mankiller or Eleanor Roosevelt on the United 
States bill that represents power and success to him provides a new 
opportunity to show our common values about equality and inclusion in 
faraway places.
  The organization Women on 20s has put forward four exceptional female 
leaders for this honor: Rosa Parks, Wilma Mankiller, Harriet Tubman, 
and Eleanor Roosevelt. That is a great list, but there is no reason to 
stop there. The initiative has sparked conversations about the many 
great women who have contributed in significant ways to strengthening 
our Nation.
  I have certainly benefited from the passionate advocacy of women who 
have fought for civil rights and equality, as have my daughters and 
constituents in Chicago, many of whom are debating and weighing in on 
the candidates for this incredible honor.
  Roosevelt University in Chicago has launched a campuswide campaign to 
champion Eleanor Roosevelt for the honor and not just because they were 
named after her. As a result of the campaign, students are 
participating in a national dialogue about her work advocating for 
child labor laws to protect kids and all workers from unsafe conditions 
and long hours, for gender equality, and safe housing.
  Now, I don't know who will be chosen. She could be one of the women 
suggested already or any one of many other talented, impressive women 
in our country's history. My mother, who is an amazing woman, would 
probably get my personal vote, but she is out of the running because, 
thankfully, she is still alive.
  I believe the time has come to have our currency represent the 
contributions of women throughout our history. A woman's place is in 
the boardroom, chairing the committee, in the laboratory, in the Oval 
Office, and, yes, even on our currency.

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