Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise, too, in support of H.R. 1842, the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act.
Harriet Tubman, born Araminta Ross, is one of the most well-known conductors of the Underground Railroad. An escaped slave herself, Harriet navigated the Underground Railroad and reached safety in Philadelphia in 1849.
Instead of remaining in Philadelphia, Harriet made numerous secret return trips to Maryland to free her friends and family. It is unclear just how many trips she made, but over a 10-year period, she never once lost one of her passengers, and she was never caught.
Many know Harriet for her contributions to the Underground Railroad. However, the knowledge she gained by leading numerous covert missions was also critical to the Union military success.
In addition to mapping Southern towns and transportation routes for the Union Army, Harriet Tubman would disguise herself as an unassuming elderly slave and wander the streets of Confederate towns, scouting military positions and supply lines, once again proving that Harriet was always willing to put her life on the line to defeat and destroy the system of slavery.
Harriet Tubman lived a truly extraordinary life and, in doing so, saved countless lives, not only those she navigated to freedom but of Union soldiers who used her intelligence to defeat their opponents, the Confederate forces.
Her incredible life cannot be summarized in 1 speech or 10 on this House floor, but the commemorative coin produced by H.R. 1842 will hopefully inspire a new generation to study her history.
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Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, let me say that each day as I drive through downtown Little Rock, I pass the most handsome statue of Harriet Tubman right outside our city hall. She has her walking stick and her cape. She is in that disguise as that slave woman walking the streets of that Confederate town. It brings inspiration to all the citizens of Little Rock to see this extraordinary woman in this public piece of art in front of our city hall.
Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko), an author of the bill.
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