A Woman on the $20 Bill?

Miller High school student Andres “Andrew” Gonzales wrote to me as part of a class project about what it would take to get a woman’s picture on the $20 bill to replace Andrew Jackson. Since I was in town Friday, I decided to stop by his class and talk about it.

I explained there are three possible ways to make the change. The Secretary of the Treasury can initiate the change, the President can order the Treasury to change the design, or Congress can pass a law mandating the change (which then has to be signed by the president).

As for who to put on the bill, an online survey (and Andrew’s Class) thought Harriet Tubman would be the best choice. Born a slave, she fled north for freedom and later made 19 trips back to the south to help free some 300 slaves. She will be remembered as the one who taught us that “every great dream begins with a dreamer.”

I also spent some time talking about what it’s like to be a Congressman and answered student’s questions.

I enjoy speaking to students and if you are interested in having me visit your school, either in person or via video conference, please call my Corpus Christi office at (361) 884-2222.