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Treasury Department moves forward with effort to put abolitionist Harriet Tubman on new $ 20 bill after effort delayed indefinitely by the Trump administration in 2019.
“The Treasury Department is taking action to resume efforts to put Harriet Tubman on the front of the new $ 20 bills,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. “It is important that our tickets, our money… reflect the history and diversity of our country and the image of Harriet Tubman adorning the new $ 20 bill would certainly reflect that.”
In a statement provided to CBS News, a Treasury Department spokesperson echoed the remarks, calling Tubman a “model of leadership and participation in our democracy.”
This renewed effort comes after former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced nearly two years ago that the proposed overhaul under former President Obama would not happen under the Trump administration. Mnuchin said it was a “non-political situation” and the main reason was to prevent counterfeiting of currency. At the time, Mnuchin had suggested that the change in the appearance of the bill would not return until 2026 and that it would not be distributed until 2028.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who has championed the effort to put women on money since it was proposed by the Obama administration in 2015, said at the time that the delay was “unacceptable” .
“I have led efforts in the Senate for years to achieve this”, Shaheen tweeted Monday after the White House said efforts were moving forward. “Trump’s administrator dragged his feet with no explanation. Ready to help Biden’s administrator see this through so that we can finally give Harriet Tubman the honor and recognition she has long deserved.”
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also applauded the move.
“I am happy that the Biden administration is reversing the trail of the Trump administration,” Schumer told the Senate. “That’s the kind of thing they did. No apologies, no reason, I just didn’t do it.”
In May 2016, former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced that Tubman would feature on the front of the $ 20, replacing President Andrew Jackson. Jackson would then be presented on the back of the bill with an image of the White House. The announcement came after a 10-month period when the Treasury Department asked for comments on who should honor the ratings.
There are several things that could make the redesign take some time, especially given the high spread of $ 20 bills among consumers. Security features to protect against counterfeiting are a timing factor. High speed printing facility is required to meet production standards. And it takes time to test the new features.
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