64 Lawmakers Rally Behind Alexander Hamilton

Pascrell and others come to the defense of Hamilton. (Ryan Kelly/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Posted July 31, 2015 at 9:00am

As the House headed for August recess, a group of 64 lawmakers is uniting against reducing the role of Alexander Hamilton on the 10-dollar bill.

A new letter to Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew is the latest effort, led by Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., and Del. Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat from the Virgin Islands.

Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis.

“As you know, the grassroots campaign to redesign the twenty dollar bill, Women On 20s, rightfully garnered the strong support of many Americans. The campaign highlighted that our currency is a way for our nation to make a statement about who we are and what we stand for,” the 64 members wrote. “For this reason, we find it disappointing that Alexander Hamilton, one of the most influential interpreters of the U.S. Constitution, a passionate advocate for the abolition of slavery, and the founder of the nation’s financial system, will be removed from our currency while President Andrew Jackson retains his place on the twenty.
“ As an alternative, the group of lawmakers, including some of the longest serving House Democrats, suggests revising the much more widely circulated twenty to include prominent placement for a woman.

“Given the fact that men are currently featured on all six paper currencies and all four of the most commonly used coins, redesigning the less-circulated ten dollar bill in a way that features a notable woman with Hamilton, as has been proposed, is simply not adequate,” the letter said. “The decision to add a woman to our paper currency is an important step forward for our country. We reiterate our deep concern with the effort to remove Alexander Hamilton from the ten dollar bill while preserving President Jackson on the more heavily-utilized twenty dollar bill.”