SCHUMER URGES U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO CHOOSE SENECA FALLS, NY - BIRTHPLACE OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT - AS SITE FOR ONE OF TREASURY’S UPCOMING PUBLIC INPUT TOWN HALLS ON NEW $10 BILL DESIGN, SENATOR ALSO OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES HIS ‘WHICH GREAT AMERICAN WOMAN SHOULD BE FEATURED ON FEDERAL CURRENCY?’ CAMPAIGN; VOTE NOW AT: SCHUMER.SENATE.GOV/VOTE-TODAY
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew Announced The $10 Bill Will Be Redesigned To Feature A Woman By 2020, The 100th Anniversary Of The 19thAmendment, Which Guaranteed Women The Right To Vote
Schumer Says It Is Time We Have An American Woman Represented On Our Paper Currency; The Public Should Have A Say In The Decision As Soon As Possible – And Seneca Falls in NY, As Birthplace of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, Should Be The Site For One of Treasury’s Town Hall Meetings Open to the Public for Input
Schumer: Vote Today To Help Decide Which Great New York Woman Should Be Featured On The $10 Bill
Standing at the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY, Senator Charles E. Schumer today launched a major push to urge the U.S. Department of the Treasury to choose Seneca Falls as a site for one of the Treasury Department’s upcoming public input town halls on the new $10 bill design. On June 17th, Secretary Jack Lew announced the $10 bill would be redesigned to feature a woman in spirit of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right the vote. The Treasury Department plans to have the $10 bill redesigned by 2020 and will hold several town-hall style meetings in locations across the country in order to determine which American woman will appear on the new $10 bill.
Schumer said choosing Seneca Falls would have symbolic power because it has historical significance as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement. In July 1848, America's first “Women's Rights Convention” was held and produced the Declaration of Sentiments, which inspired and guided the drive for women's equality to this very day. Schumer also officially launched his online poll: ‘Which Great American Woman Should Be Featured on Federal Currency?’ campaign, in which he will be asking NY State residents for their input on which great New York woman should be featured on the redesigned $10 bill.
“Seneca Falls was the founding site of one of our country’s most important political and social movements – the women’s rights movement – and because of its unique historical standing it should serve as host to one of the public input town halls to discuss which great American woman will be featured on the $10 bill redesign,” said Schumer. “It is only fitting that the input of a town so ingrained in the history of women’s suffrage play an integral part in the process that will finally place a woman – and hopefully a New Yorker – on the $10 bill as this nation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19thAmendment.”
Schumer continued, “And in addition to serving as a lasting testament to the courage of the women and men who started a movement in the Rochester Finger Lakes region that led to women getting the ballot – a giant step forward in the progress of our democracy – I am asking New Yorkers across the state to let their voice be heard. Being able to provide feedback on such an important issue is exactly why these woman fought so long and hard for equal treatment under the law.”
Schumer explained that many great New Yorkers, including Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Eleanor Roosevelt, and more dedicated their lives to creating true democracy in a time when women had no right to vote and slavery was commonplace throughout much of the nation. Schumer said the political and social movements launched by these women and many like them across New York State and the country transformed American society. At the heart of this struggle was the Town of Seneca Falls, where, in 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott joined with 300 other women at the First Women’s Rights Convention. It was at this convention that these women presented and passed the Declaration of Sentiments, which demanded woman have the right to vote. Therefore, Schumer said that as the birthplace of the women’s suffrage movement, it is only fitting that the input of a town so ingrained in the history of women’s rights play an integral part in the process to place a woman on the $10 bill. Schumer urged Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to choose Seneca Falls as the site for one of the Treasury Department’s upcoming town halls where it will ask for public input on the new $10 bill design.
In addition to saying that Seneca Falls should be a clear choice as a site for one of the public input town halls, Schumer launched his online poll: ‘Which Great American Woman Should Be Featured on Federal Currency?’ campaign. Through this poll Schumer will be asking NY State residents for their responses and feedback on which great New Yorker should be featured in the redesign of the $10 bill. Schumer explained that the Treasury Department announced two weeks ago that the $10 bill would be redesigned in spirit of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right the vote, and will be rolled out in 2020. Schumer said that, between now and when the decision is made at the end of the year, the public should have sufficient say in the decision making process.
Those who are interested in participating in the poll should visit schumer.senate.gov/vote-today.
Schumer was joined by Jeanne Giovannini, President of the National Women’s Hall of Fame Board of Directors, members of the board, members from the Women’s Rights National Historic Park, members from the Seneca Falls Historical Society, and elected officials.
“The Women’s National Hall of Fame would like to thank Senator Schumer for working to secure a Town Hall meeting here in Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the women’s rights movement. The Hall has supported Womenonthe20s, and we were delighted to hear that the Treasury Department was interested in putting a woman on the $10 bill, an effort we are supporting. Having women on our U.S. currency is an honor long overdue,” said Jeanne Giovannini, President of the National Women’s Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
A copy of Senator Schumer’s letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew appears below:
Dear Secretary Lew,
On June 17th the Department of the Treasury announced that a portrait of a woman would be featured on the newly redesigned $10 bill to be put into circulation in 2020. As part of that announcement you highlighted that Treasury would be seeking input from interested parties as to who would be the most appropriate selection. You specifically mentioned that Treasury would be soliciting input and feedback through round-table discussions and town hall meetings. It is in response to that announcement that I am writing to urge the Department of the Treasury to choose the Town of Seneca Falls, New York as a site for one of Treasury’s upcoming public town halls in the coming months.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment, and look to honor a woman to be featured on our paper currency, it is important to include the input of a town that has been ingrained in the history of the movement for women’s rights. I believe that the historical significance and its continued connection to the honoring of the fight for women’s rights makes Seneca Falls a clear choice as one of the hosts for a town-hall discussion of which woman best exemplifies “a champion for our inclusive democracy.”
As you may know, the Town of Seneca Falls is the birthplace of the women’s rights movement and home to the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In fact, the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, which preserves the sites associated with the 1848 First Women’s Rights Convention, is located in Seneca Falls. During this convention, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and over 300 other women and men presented and passed the Declaration of Sentiments that demanded woman have the right to vote.
Seneca Falls was where those women and many others gathered to advance the cause of human and civil rights, in the name of creating a better democracy. Those intrepid advocates knew the true meaning of democracy and dedicated their lives to making our nation more closely reflect that ideal. Seneca Falls is where they made their voices heard and should similarly be a place where today’s voices are heard as to how best to honor their achievements.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
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