To amend title 31, United States Code, to prohibit the issuance of United States currency and securities containing the signature of the sitting President.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8174
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Finance and Financial Sector
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-09T14:49:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 8174) aims to prevent the signature of the current U.S. President from appearing on newly issued U.S. currency (like dollar bills) or government securities (like Treasury bonds).
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Signatures: Amends Section 5114(b) of title 31, U.S. Code (which governs signatures on currency), to ban issuing any U.S. currency or securities bearing the signature of someone serving as President at the time of issuance.
- Waiver Requirement: The ban can only be overridden by a new law passed after this bill's enactment, which must explicitly reference and waive this specific prohibition.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new restriction to current law, which allows but does not require the Treasury Secretary's signature on currency; previously, there was no explicit bar on using the President's signature.
- Introduces a high bar for exceptions, requiring targeted congressional approval rather than administrative discretion.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Treasury (including the Bureau of Engraving and Printing) and potentially the Federal Reserve would need to update designs and printing processes for currency and securities, avoiding the sitting President's signature. This could involve short-term administrative changes but minimal long-term costs.
- Citizens: Everyday users of cash would see currency without the President's signature, potentially reducing political symbolism on money but not affecting its value or usability.
- International Relations: No direct impact mentioned or implied.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Treasury Department: Responsible for designing and issuing currency and securities.
- Sitting and Future Presidents: Their signatures cannot appear on new issuances during their term.
- Congress: Gains sole authority to waive the prohibition via new legislation.
- Financial Institutions and Public: Indirectly affected through updated currency designs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens congressional control over currency design (a power granted to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution) by limiting executive influence on signatures.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to "coin Money" and regulate its value; no apparent conflicts.
- Political: Could depoliticize currency by removing the President's personal mark, avoiding controversies tied to specific administrations; requires future Congresses to actively approve any reversal.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend title 31, United States Code, to prohibit the issuance of United States currency and securities containing the signature of the sitting President. — issued 2026-04-02 — PDF (2 pages)