Schumer launches American women U.S. currency contest
Standing at the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY, Senator Charles E. Schumer today launched his online poll: ‘Which Great American Woman Should Be on U.S. Currency?’campaign, in which he will be asking NY State residents for their input on which great New York woman should be featured on U.S. currency. Schumer also made a major push to urge the U.S. Treasury Department to choose Seneca Falls as a site for one of the Treasury Department’s upcoming public input town halls on the new currency design. On June 17th, Secretary Jack Lew announced U.S. currency 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 currency 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 U.S. currency.
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 on U.S. 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 currency.
“It’s time we have an American woman represented on our paper currency and the public should have a say in this decision. Vote today to help decide which great New York woman should be featured on U.S. currency,” said Senator Schumer.
Schumer continued, “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 U.S. currency. 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 U.S. currency as this nation celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.”