President Donald Trump signed into law Thursday legislation establishing a suffragist monument in Washington, D.C., created by Loveland artist Jane DeDecker.
, “Every Word We Utter,” features Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Harriot Stanton Blatch, Ida B. Wells and Alice Paul. An exact location for the sculpture has not been determined, though an early version of the bill called for it to be placed near the U.S. Supreme Court.
“It is fitting to close this year — the centennial of women’s suffrage — with this strong declaration for the history and legacy of the women’s suffrage movement. Women deserve this commemoration, and the battles for equality that continue today deserve it, too,” DeDecker said in a statement.
The president had urged Congress to pass the bill, H.R. 473, in , claiming, “I have done more for WOMEN than just about any President in HISTORY!” The bill was sponsored by Rep. Joe Neguse, a Lafayette Democrat, and cosponsored by every member of Colorado’s congressional delegation.
“The ratification of the 19th Amendment was a historic moment in our nation’s history, and the suffragists who fought to secure the right for women to vote are American heroes,” Neguse said in a statement. “This statue will honor their perseverance, commitment and the long-fought victories gained by all women.”
The House passed the bill in February and the Senate did so . In both cases, it passed on a voice vote, a tactic used for uncontroversial legislation.
No taxpayer dollars will be used in building or maintaining the monument. Instead, a board will collect donations, which can be made online at .
