Exciting news! My bill was just signed into law.
Dear Friend, Today, I have great news. My legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, was just signed into law. Click here to see my floor speech on this legislation from September. This success is a long time coming.
Women have played a critical role in shaping our country since its founding but for far too long have often been excluded or gone unrecognized.
Suffragists like Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrell and other Black women and women of color fought not only for the right to vote, but also fought against sexism and racism. They led the way for future generations of women to lead and demand a seat at the table.
It’s important that we celebrate their contributions and ensure that they are properly recognized in our nation’s history.
That’s why I introduced this legislation, which allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issue new quarter-dollar coins recognizing the contributions of prominent American women.
The first series of quarters in this program commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting some women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of those quarters will represent prominent American women in a range of fields, including but not limited to suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, and humanities. This series will also include women from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds.
Representation is critical. It is my hope that diverse American women will be chosen and depicted, celebrating our nation’s leaders, thinkers, and innovators.
Best, Barbara Lee
Article Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2020
By a unanimous vote, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors today approved establishment of a Sacramento County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. The advisory council will help shape policy decisions that impact women and girls; act as a resource to advance economic opportunities for women and girls; and gather data on the status of women and girls, among other duties.
In July 2019 a Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on the Establishment of a Sacramento County Women’s Commission was initiated by First District Supervisor Phil Serna and approved the Board of Supervisors. The group’s mandate was to research the merits of a Sacramento County Women’s Commission by which the Board of Supervisors and public could better understand issues, opportunities and challenges unique to women in Sacramento County.
The group presented their recommendations before the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 8. The resolution was approved today.
“The establishment of this Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is long overdue for Sacramento County, and that’s why I proposed the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission last year to explore the prospect of a permanent commission,” said Board Chair and First District Supervisor Phil Serna. “I’m confident this commission is going to do great work, and I want to thank all the members of the BRC for their work in providing an outstanding report and their public outreach efforts.”
The Sacramento County Commission of the Status of Women joins 26 other California city and county commissions dedicated to gender equity.
CONTACT INFO: LAURIE SLOTHOWER, SACRAMENTO COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, 916-874-8899
