To amend title 31, United States Code, to prohibit the issuance of United States currency and securities containing the signature of the sitting President.
Summary
HB8174 would amend federal law in Title 31 of the U.S. Code to prohibit the issuance of U.S. currency or securities that bear the signature of a person currently serving as President. In practical terms, this would prevent the Treasury from using a sitting President’s signature on newly issued paper money, coins if covered by the relevant issuance process, or federal securities during that President’s term.
The bill also includes a narrow waiver provision. The prohibition could be overridden only if Congress later enacts specific statutory authorization that expressly waives the rule by reference. That means the default rule would be a blanket ban on using a sitting President’s signature, with any exception requiring clear, affirmative legislative action.
Impact
The bill would amend 31 U.S.C. § 5114(b) to add a new restriction on the design and issuance of federal currency and securities, changing Treasury’s authority over signature requirements for these instruments. It would affect the Department of the Treasury and any federal processes for printing or issuing currency and government securities that currently incorporate the President’s signature, while leaving room for Congress to authorize exceptions through later, explicit legislation.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so no direct floor or committee sentiment can be measured. Based on the bill’s text and posture, it appears to be a targeted administrative and symbolic measure rather than a broad fiscal or regulatory overhaul. The referral to the House Committee on Financial Services suggests it was treated as a financial/government operations issue.
Contention
The main point of contention would likely be whether the President’s signature should appear on federal currency and securities at all, and whether removing it serves a meaningful anti-personalization or anti-cult-of-personality purpose. Supporters would likely view the bill as a guardrail against politicizing currency, while opponents could argue it is unnecessary, purely symbolic, or creates avoidable administrative changes for Treasury. Because no debate transcript or votes are provided, no specific member positions are available.
To amend title 28, United States Code, to prohibit Presidents and Vice Presidents from receiving damages payments from the United States, and for other purposes.
To make revisions in title 51, United States Code, as necessary to keep the title current, and to make technical amendments to improve the United States Code.
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