Blackburn introduces bipartisan, bicameral bill honoring women’s voting rights

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on April 30 sponsored a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would commemorate American women’s right to vote with a commemorative coin to be minted by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed voting rights for women.

“The 2020 centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment is a rare moment to celebrate the milestone in American history that made it possible for women to finally have a voice in government,” Sen. Blackburn said on Tuesday.

Sen. Blackburn introduced the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, S. 1235, which has 24 cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and lead Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.

“Ninety-nine years after women gained the right to vote, I became the first woman from Tennessee to serve in the United States Senate,” said Sen. Blackburn. “I am honored to work with Senator Gillibrand, and all of the women in the Senate, to commemorate the pioneers and trailblazers who made it possible for us to be members of this chamber.”

S. 1235 is under consideration by the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) on April 30 introduced companion legislation in their chamber, the same-named H.R. 2423, which is being reviewed by the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.