[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 170 (Monday, October 28, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8507-H8509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 2423) to require the Secretary of the Treasury 
to mint coins in commemoration of ratification of the 19th Amendment to 
the Constitution of the United States, giving women in the United 
States the right to vote, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2423

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Suffrage Centennial 
     Commemorative Coin Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the 
     first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. 68 
     women and 32 men signed the Declaration of Sentiments at the 
     Convention in July 1848.
       (2) The Declaration of Sentiments was modeled after the 
     Declaration of Independence and declared that ``all men and 
     women are created equal'', linking women's rights directly to 
     the founding ideals of the United States.
       (3) Suffrage activists, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 
     Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. 
     Wells, Jovita Idar, Inez Millholland, Mary Church Terrell, 
     Anne Dallas Dudley, Carrie Chapman Cat, Alice Paul, Lucy 
     Burns, Esther Hobart Morris, and many others, conducted over 
     900 local, State, and Federal campaigns over a 72-year time 
     span to win women the right to vote.
       (4) On November 6, 1917, New York granted women the right 
     to vote, which was an act that created momentum for the 
     national movement that culminated in the ratification of the 
     19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States 3 
     years later.
       (5) The 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United 
     States (``The Susan B. Anthony Amendment'') guarantees all 
     United States women the right to vote and was passed by the 
     66th Congress of the United States on June 4, 1919.
       (6) On August 9, 1920, right before the ratification period 
     was set to expire, Governor Albert H. Roberts called a 
     special session of the Tennessee General Assembly to consider 
     the amendment. Pro-suffrage and anti-suffrage activists from 
     around the country descended on Nashville, Tennessee, intent 
     on influencing the legislature.
       (7) After the amendment was defeated in a 48-48 tie vote, 
     Tennessee State Representative Harry T. Burn from McMinn 
     County cast the deciding favorable vote after receiving a 
     note from his mother, Phoebe Ensminger Burn, imploring him to 
     vote yes for ratification.
       (8) On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th and final 
     State needed to pass the 19th Amendment, ensuring its 
     ratification pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the 
     United States.
       (9) The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 26, 1920, 
     when Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby issued a 
     proclamation announcing it has become part of the 
     Constitution of the United States.
       (10) The ratification of the 19th Amendment marked the 
     single largest extension of voting rights in United States 
     history, enfranchising 27,000,000 American women in the 
     United States.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is--
       (1) to honor and commemorate the work of women suffrage 
     activists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries;
       (2) to increase public awareness and appreciation for the 
     history of the women's suffrage movement; and
       (3) to encourage all women in the United States to exercise 
     their hard-won franchise and to become involved in civic life 
     if they so choose.

     SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

       (a) $1 Silver Coins.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
     (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') 
     shall mint and issue not more than 400,000 $1 coins, which 
     shall--
       (1) weigh 26.73 grams;
       (2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
       (3) contain at least 90 percent silver.
       (b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be 
     legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United 
     States Code.
       (c) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and 
     5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under 
     this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.

     SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COIN.

       (a) Design Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be emblematic of the women who played a vital role 
     in rallying support for the 19th Amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States.
       (2) Designations and inscriptions.--On each coin minted 
     under this Act, there shall be--
       (A) a designation of the value of the coin;
       (B) an inscription of the year ``2020''; and
       (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We 
     Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus 
     Unum.''
       (b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this 
     Act shall--
       (1) contain motifs that honor Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth 
     Cady Stanton, Carrie Chapman Catt, Harriet Tubman, Mary 
     Church Terrell, Alice Paul, Lide Meriwether, Ida B. Wells, 
     and other suffrage activists of the late 19th century and 
     early 20th centuries;
       (2) be selected by the Secretary, after consultation with 
     the Smithsonian Institution's American Women's History 
     Initiative, and the Commission of Fine Arts; and
       (3) be reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

     SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.

       (a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be 
     issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
       (b) Mint Facilities.--Only 1 facility of the United States 
     Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the 
     coins minted under this Act.
       (c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins 
     under this Act only during the period beginning on January 1, 
     2020, and ending on December 31, 2020.

     SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.

       (a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under this Act shall be 
     sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
       (1) the face value of the coins;
       (2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to 
     such coins; and
       (3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including 
     labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, 
     marketing, and shipping).
       (b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the 
     coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
       (c) Prepaid Orders.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders 
     for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of 
     such coins.
       (2) Discount.--Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders 
     under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.

     SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.

       (a) In General.--All sales of coins issued under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin 
     described under section 3(a).
       (b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, 
     United States Code, and section 8(2), all surcharges received 
     by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act 
     shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the Smithsonian 
     Institution's American Women's History Initiative for the 
     purpose of--
       (1) collecting, studying, and establishing programs 
     relating to women's contributions to various fields and 
     throughout different periods of history that have influenced 
     the direction of the United States; and
       (2) creating exhibitions and programs that recognize 
     diverse perspectives on women's history and contributions.
       (c) Audits.--The Smithsonian Institution's American Women's 
     History Initiative shall

[[Page H8508]]

     be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of 
     title 31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts 
     received under subsection (b).

     SEC. 8. FINANCIAL ASSURANCES.

       The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary 
     to ensure that--
       (1) minting and issuing coins under this Act will not 
     result in any net cost to the United States Government; and
       (2) no funds, including applicable surcharges, shall be 
     disbursed to any recipient designated in section 7(b) until 
     the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins 
     authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use 
     of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is 
     recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with 
     sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.

     SEC. 9. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pascrell). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr.   David Scott) and the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material 
thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, 2020 marks the centennial anniversary of the 
ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. 
This historic centennial offers an unparalleled opportunity to 
commemorate a milestone of democracy, and to honor the legacy of 
pioneers and patriots who blazed a trail to lead women to the voting 
booth.
  This bipartisan, bicameral legislation authorizes the Department of 
the Treasury to mint $1 silver coins in 2020 to commemorate the work of 
women suffrage activists in the late 19th and early 20th century and 
increase public awareness and appreciation for the history of the 
women's suffrage movement. Proceeds from sales of these coins will go 
towards supporting the Smithsonian Institution's American Women's 
History Initiative for the purpose of collecting, studying, and 
establishing programs recognizing diverse perspectives on women's 
history and women's contributions that have influenced the direction of 
our great Nation.
  I thank Ms. Stefanik for introducing this bill, and I urge all 
Members to vote ``yes.''
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2423, the Women's Suffrage 
Centennial Commemorative Coin Act.
  I thank the gentlewoman from New York, Congresswoman Stefanik, my 
good friend, who has introduced and brought this bill forward to the 
floor, as well as the gentlewoman from Tennessee, Senator Blackburn, 
for their tireless work on this commemorative coin bill. Congresswoman 
Stefanik, Senator Blackburn, and all of the women in our conference 
have been tireless supporters of this issue. 2020 marks the 100th 
anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing and 
protecting a woman's constitutional right to vote in this country.
  I would be remiss if I did not recognize and honor the work of the 
late Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin. Congresswoman Rankin founded the 
Committee on Woman Suffrage, which led the fight in the House of 
Representatives for the constitutional amendment that would grant 
women, nationwide, the right to vote. It is these efforts for equality 
that we are commemorating today.
  This historic centennial offers an unparalleled opportunity to 
commemorate a milestone of democracy and to shed light on and honor the 
legacy of pioneers and patriots who blazed new trails to lead women to 
the voting booth.
  Beginning in July of 1848, the first women's rights convention was 
held in Seneca Falls, New York. Yet, it was not until August of 1920, 
140 years after signing the Declaration of Independence, that the fight 
for a woman's right to vote concluded in Nashville, Tennessee.
  Mr. Speaker, Tennessee became the 36th and final State needed to 
ratify the 19th Amendment, marking the single largest extension of 
voting rights in our Nation's history, enfranchising 27 million 
American women.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will help ensure that the upcoming 
anniversary, and the 72 years of tireless perseverance by three 
generations of dedicated suffragists who sought to overturn centuries 
of law and millennia of tradition, are commemorated and celebrated 
throughout the United States.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. Speaker, additionally, the Women's Suffrage Centennial 
Commemorative Coin Act will not cost any taxpayer dollars. All funding 
will come from the sale of the coins to private citizens, with proceeds 
from the coin going to support the Smithsonian Institution's American 
Women's History Initiative.
  This initiative is intended to be the Nation's most comprehensive 
undertaking to document, research, collect, display, and share the rich 
and compelling story of women in America.
  Mr. Speaker, passage of H.R. 2423 will honor this unforgettable 
movement and support educating our future generations about the fight 
for women's equality. We should do our part by passing this legislation 
to create this commemorative coin.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to 
yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), who 
is a national leader in the fight for women's voting rights and is the 
lead Democratic sponsor of this historic and important piece of 
legislation.
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be here and to have the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) sitting in that seat.
  I want to thank my colleague, Representative Scott, and I want to 
start by thanking our chairwoman, Maxine Waters, for bringing this 
legislation to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2423, the Women's 
Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act introduced by my colleague, 
Ms. Stefanik, and myself.
  As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues 
and the co-chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, I strongly support 
this measure which honors the legacy of suffragists who played a vital 
role in rallying support for the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of 
the United States.
  The suffragists began their organized fight for women's empowerment 
in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. They were tireless and never gave up 
the fight. For 72 years, the women leaders lobbied, marched, picketed, 
and protested for the right to the ballot.
  More importantly, proceeds from the sales of these coins will support 
the Smithsonian Institution's American Women's History Initiative for 
the purpose of collecting, studying, and establishing programs 
recognizing diverse perspectives on women's history and women who have 
influenced the direction of this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I like to always remind people that women are 51 percent 
of the population in this great country, and we are now 106 strong 
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
  I also want to note that, on May 21 of this year, the House 
celebrated its 100th anniversary of the House passage of the 19th 
Amendment with the passage of H.R. 354, legislation I introduced and 
which was supported by all women Members of Congress. The Senate 
followed 2 weeks later, in June, with the passage of the Senate 
resolution.
  Today, over 68 million women participate in elections, which would 
not be possible without the suffragists who

[[Page H8509]]

never gave up the fight for equal rights. Because of their hard work, 
glass ceilings were broken and progress prevailed.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman stands today recognizing that 
women are so important to the lives of so many in this country and to 
our strong government and democracy. I urge my colleagues to support 
this legislation.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Stefanik), the author of this piece of legislation.
  Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from 
Missouri, for yielding her time.
  The first women's rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New 
York, in 1848, marking the official debut of the women's suffrage 
movement, which would extend over the course of the next 72 years.
  During this tumultuous time, generations of brave suffragists 
dedicated their lives, refusing to give up in their fight for a better 
and more equitable future.
  It wasn't until August of 1920, 140 years after the Declaration of 
Independence was signed, that this fight culminated with the adoption 
of the 19th Amendment. Ratification of the 19th Amendment marked the 
single largest expansion of voting rights in United States history, 
enfranchising over 27 million American women.
  Mr. Speaker, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 
19th Amendment, and I was proud to introduce legislation with my 
colleague and friend from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence) and my friend, 
Senator Blackburn from Tennessee, to celebrate this historic and 
monumental movement.
  The Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act is bipartisan, 
bicameral legislation that authorizes the Department of the Treasury to 
mint $1 silver coins in 2020 to commemorate the tremendous work of 
women suffrage activists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  This bill ensures that, on the 100th anniversary of the passage of 
the 19th Amendment, the suffragists who dedicated their lives fighting 
to extend this fundamental right to women are commemorated and 
celebrated throughout the United States.
  I am looking forward to celebrating the 100th anniversary next year 
in my district, where one of the most vocal advocates for women's 
suffrage, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, was born and raised in Johnstown, New 
York.
  I would not have the opportunity to serve in this body today were it 
not for the bravery and determination of generations of suffragists.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a unique opportunity to commemorate a milestone 
of democracy, and it is my hope that this bipartisan bill will 
encourage women across our country to continue to be active 
participants in civic life. I strongly encourage my colleagues to 
support this bill.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentlewoman from New 
York (Ms. Stefanik) and Congresswoman Lawrence, also, for their 
tremendous work on this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, as I stand here at this moment and listen to 
the comments, I am reminded of a woman whose name was Isabella. But in 
New York City, one day, the Lord changed her name because she had a 
vision from God, and God changed her name from Isabella to Sojourner 
Truth. She was a pioneer in women's rights and was at the forefront of 
the battle coming out in the 19th century for women's rights, a 
fearless leader.
  Today, we have a statue honoring Sojourner Truth right here in the 
Capitol.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask everyone to support this bill, and, hopefully, 
again, we will have a unanimous vote on this very important piece of 
legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr.   David Scott) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2423, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________