Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

Floor Speech

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.

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.

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Mrs. WAGNER. Stefanik), the author of this piece of legislation.

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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, 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.

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