Yesterday, on Harriet Tubman Day, a bill was introduced to Congress that proposed featuring abolitionist Harriet Tubman (1822-1931) on the $20 note. Called the Harriet Tubman Act of 2025, it aims to replace President Andrew Jackson’s portrait with Tubman’s on all $20s printed in 2031 and later. If this bill sounds familiar, it’s because several bills like it have been proposed over the last 10 years, with no success. Some have suggested placing Tubman on the back and keeping Jackson on the front of the note, but others say the two figures represent opposing ideals and don’t belong sharing a bill.
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery and escaped in 1849. She served as a nurse and spy during the Civil War and led dozens of slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. “An abolitionist and true patriot who sacrificed so much for the betterment of our nation, Harriet Tubman is nothing short of an American icon,” says Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), who introduced the bill. “Women and girls, especially communities of color, deserve to see themselves represented and celebrated in meaningful ways—and they deserve to know that their contributions are honored and recognized.”
The redesign of the $20 is scheduled for 2030. “I’ve advocated for making this move under four different administrations now,” Shaheen says. “While some officials have been supportive, it hasn’t yet been done, which illustrates why it’s so important that Congress step up.”
A version of this article appears in the May 2025 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).