Support the Change Corruption Act to Uphold Currency Standards

I am writing to urge you to support the Change Corruption Act introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley and Catherine Cortez Masto. This legislation would prevent any living or sitting president from appearing on United States currency, closing a loophole that the current administration is exploiting. In October, the U.S. Mint announced plans to create commemorative $1 coins bearing President Trump's likeness to honor America's 250th anniversary in 2026. The Mint's website displays three designs featuring Trump's image, with phrases including "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "1776 ~ 2026". An earlier draft from U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach showed Trump with his fist raised following the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, with "FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT" wrapped around the edge. This plan contradicts the spirit of existing law. Title 31 of the U.S. Code explicitly states that "Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities." The Thayer Amendment, passed in 1866, established this same prohibition. While the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 only banned living people from the reverse of commemorative coins, this narrow exception should not be used to circumvent longstanding principles. Placing a sitting president's image on currency is the hallmark of authoritarian regimes, not democratic republics. The only historical precedent occurred in 1926 when Calvin Coolidge appeared on a half-dollar coin, but that exception should not become the rule. Our currency should honor deceased leaders who have earned their place in history through the judgment of time, not serve as promotional material for current officeholders. I ask you to co-sponsor the Change Corruption Act and work to ensure it receives a vote. This legislation protects the integrity of our currency and prevents the normalization of practices associated with dictatorships rather than democracies.