Commems Collection Modern: 2029 Rosa Parks Possible? 119th Congress #03

Bill(s)

- HR 916 (Introduced by Joyce Beatty (D-OH))

Short Title

- Rosa Parks Commemorative Coin Act

Proposed Year of Issue

- 2029

Purpose

To recognize and celebrate the life and legacy of Rosa Parks.

Findings

The Congress finds the following:

(1) Rosa Parks, widely celebrated as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement", became an iconic figure when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955, igniting a pivotal movement that challenged racial segregation and forever altered the course of American history.

(2) Born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, to Leona McCauley, a teacher, and James McCauley, a carpenter, Parks grew up in the segregated South, experiencing firsthand the harsh realities of racial injustice.

(3) Despite the profound challenges of racial inequality, Parks attended segregated schools in Alabama, graduating high school in 1933, where her education and experiences fueled her lifelong commitment to activism.

(4) In 1943, Parks became deeply involved with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where she served as Secretary and Youth Leader, investigating cases of racial violence such as the rape of Recy Taylor and the lynching of Emmett Till.

(5) On December 1, 1955, Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a White man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, an act that led to the historic 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott by more than 40,000 riders.

(6) The boycott sparked a legal challenge to Montgomery's bus segregation laws, which culminated in the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Browder v. Gayle declaring bus segregation unconstitutional on November 13, 1956.

(7) Following the boycott, Parks faced significant personal and economic hardships, including the loss of her job and ongoing threats to her life, yet her determination to fight for justice remained steadfast.

(8) In 1957, Parks moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she continued her work as an advocate for racial equality, focusing on economic justice, political participation, and racial integration.

(9) Parks became a global symbol of resistance to racial segregation and injustice, and her act of defiance inspired civil rights movements around the world.

(10) Throughout her life, Parks remained committed to civil rights activism, participating in marches and speaking engagements, as well as mentoring younger generations of activists, furthering her legacy of leadership in the struggle for racial equality.

(11) Parks passed away on October 24, 2005, at the age of 92, leaving an enduring legacy of courage, resilience, and leadership that continues to inspire social justice and equality advocates across the globe.

(12) In recognition of her profound impact, Parks became the first woman and second African American to lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda.

(13) In 1996, President Bill Clinton awarded Parks the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the President of the United States.

(14) In 1999, Parks received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions bestowed by the United States Congress.

(15) Parks' legacy is commemorated through numerous schools, streets, transit stations, and monuments named in her honor, ensuring that her contributions to American history are remembered and celebrated.

(16) In 2006, Ohio became the first state to designate December 1, the day of Parks' arrest, as Rosa Parks Day, garnering unanimous support from the state legislature and being signed into law by Governor Bob Taft.

(17) Rosa Parks Day is also celebrated in the states of California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, and New York on her birthday, February 4, and in Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas on December 1.

(18) It is fitting and proper to recognize and preserve the achievements and impact of Rosa Parks, whose personal sacrifice, unwavering resistance, and inspirational advocacy were essential to the success of the Civil Rights Movement, and whose legacy continues to serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations.

Coins

- Up to 50,000 Gold $5 coins
- Up to 400,000 Silver $1 coins
- Up to 750,000 Clad Copper-Nickel $0.50 coins

Surcharges

- $5 coin: $35
- $1 coin: $10
- $0.50 coin: $5

Sponsor/Beneficiary

- The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, for the purpose of accomplishing and advancing its mission to carry on the work of Rosa Parks in youth development and civil rights education and advocacy.

Comments

The Rosa Parks bill was introduced with 61 co-sponsors - a definite sign of support. The bill currently has 65 co-sponsors.

In the 118th Congress, two coin bills - Arnold Palmer and Selena Quintanilla - were introduced that targeted a 2029 issue. Neither of these bills, however, was successful nor has been re-introduced in the 119th Congress (as of March 12, 2025). Until these, or other coin bills targeting a 2029 issue date, are introduced in the current Congress, only the Rosa Parks commemorative coin bill is looking to take one of the two available 2029 sponsored commemorative coin slots.

I think the bill has a reasonable chance of success - better than the 4% that GovTrack projects. Rosa Parks is an iconic figure in the history of the US Civil Rights movement, and a tangible commemorative of her legacy would likely gain bipartisan support. One potential obstacle, however, is the fact that Congress authorized a Congressional Gold Medal for Rosa Parks in 1999, and some will argue that such a high honor is sufficient.

1999 Rosa Parks Congressional Medal

(Image Credit: US Mint. Media Image.)


Likelihood of Passage?

- Per GovTrack: 4%


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including more Possible? commemorative c oin stories, see: Commems Collection.