Illinois State House District 46 issued the following announcement on Dec. 5.
In accordance with a law championed by state Rep. Deb Conroy, D-Villa Park, for Illinois to issue a coin in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the Illinois State Treasurer’s office is now accepting proposals for prospective artists.
“Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the constitutional right of women to vote,” Conroy said. “In its honor, I passed a measure to issue a commemorative coin to celebrate this hard-won achievement and to serve as a reminder of all those who have devoted their lives to the struggle for equality of the sexes.”
Conroy led the charge to pass Senate Joint Resolution 28 to direct the Illinois State Treasurer to issue a coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 2020. Those interested in designing the coin must submit a portfolio of their qualifications to the Treasurer by Dec. 18. Finalists, announced Jan. 3, will then be asked to submit their design.
As co-chair of the House Democratic Women’s Caucus, Conroy helped to pass a number of measures to empower women. To ensure youth have a clear understanding of personal boundaries from an early age, she supported House Bill 3550 to require sex education curriculum includes an age-appropriate discussion on the meaning of consent. Conroy also supported the Reproductive Health Act, Senate Bill 25, to protect reproductive rights and women’s bodily autonomy.
“At a time when there is a concerted effort to erase many of the strides that women have made to advance equality, it is now more important than ever to remember how far we have come and our continued duty to ensure progress is not lost but gained ,” Conroy added. “I encourage anyone with a passion for art and equality to submit a design proposal for the honorary coin.”
Original source can be found here.
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