I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2067
To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to incorporate certain features in
the redesign of the United States currency so as to make such currency
readily accessible to the visually impaired.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 25, 1997
Ms. RIVERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Banking and Financial Services
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to incorporate cer-
tain features in the redesign of the United States cur-
rency so as to make such currency readily accessible
to the visually impaired.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Common Sense Currency Act of 1997’’.
(b) FINDINGS.—The Congress hereby finds the fol-
lowing:
(1) Approximately 3,700,000 Americans are
visually disabled, 3,500,000 Americans have low vi-
sion, and another 9,000,000 Americans live with
milder forms of visual impairment.
(2) As the geriatric population of the United
States increases, so will the number of people with
low vision.
(3) Many Americans who are visually impaired
are employed, provide for themselves, and lead active
and productive lives.
(4) In one critical area, however, the self-suffi-
ciency of the visually impaired is greatly hindered:
the uniform size and color of United States currency
makes even the simplest commercial transaction a
risky venture for the visually impaired.
(5) The United States stands virtually alone
out of all the nations of the world in the use of a
single color scheme for all denominations of currency
since 167 countries use a clearly differentiated color
scheme for all denominations of currency and 2 ad-
ditional countries use a clearly differentiated color
scheme for at least some denominations of currency.
(6) In addition, many countries use different
sizes for different denominations of currency and at
least 23 countries incorporate tactile features on
currency to permit the use of such currency by the
[blind].
(7) Many of the options available for currency
design which would reduce the risk of loss through
mistake, deceit, or fraud for the visually impaired
would also be beneficial for the general ‘‘seeing’’
population and would reduce the amount of losses
incurred by businesses through mistakes, fraud, or
the mishandling of currency by cashiers at the cash
register.
SEC. 2. REDESIGNED CURRENCY REQUIRED TO INCOR-
PORATE FEATURES FOR THE VISUALLY IM-
PAIRED.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury
shall incorporate the following features in the design of
all denominations of United States currency consistent
with the principles described in subsection (b):
(1) SIZE.—A different size note shall be used
for each different denomination of Federal reserve
notes.
(2) HIGH-CONTRAST NUMERALS.—The denomi-
nation of each Federal reserve note shall appear in
large high-contrast numerals on a uniform back-
ground.
(3) COLOR SCHEME.—A clearly differentiated
color scheme shall be used for each denomination of
currency.
(4) 
ENGRAVED
MARKS.—Specific 
engraved
marks, visible or invisible, shall be used for each de-
nomination of United States currency.
(b) PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE
TO CURRENCY DE-
SIGN.—In redesigning the United States currency in ac-
cordance with subsection (a), the following principles shall
apply:
(1) READILY IDENTIFIABLE DENOMINATIONS.—
It should be fast and easy to identify and distinguish
the denominations of the redesigned currency.
(2) NO SPECIAL DEVICES.—The identification
of the denominations of currency by the visually im-
paired should not require any special devices or
equipment other than everyday aids, such as eye-
glasses.
(3) COST-EFFECTIVE.—The redesign of the cur-
rency should be cost-effective.
(4) COMBINATION
OF
TACTILE
AND
OTHER
FEATURES.—The redesigned currency should include
tactile features to enable the blind to use the cur-
rency as well as the color and size features described
in subsection (a) for the visually impaired.
Æ