( CNN ) -- Should Ulysses S. Grant , the legendary Union general and 18th president of the United States , be bumped from his 96-year stint on the $ 50 bill ? Yes , according to one North Carolina Republican . Rep. Patrick McHenry announced that he will introduce a measure that would replace Grant 's face with Ronald Reagan 's , just in time for the 40th president 's 100th birthday next February . `` President Reagan was a modern day statesman , whose presidency transformed our nation 's political and economic thinking , '' McHenry said in a statement . `` Through both his domestic and international policies he renewed America 's self confidence , defeated the Soviets and taught us that each generation must provide opportunity for the next . '' McHenry says it 's only logical for Reagan to replace Grant on the $ 50 bill because several historians have ranked Reagan as a much better president than Grant . McHenry specifically cites a 2005 Wall Street Journal survey of scholars who placed Reagan at No . 6 and Grant at No . 29 . `` Every generation needs its own heroes , '' McHenry also said . `` One decade into the 21st century , it 's time to honor the last great president of the 20th and give President Reagan a place beside Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy . '' Franklin Roosevelt 's face currently appears on the dime while John F. Kennedy 's image is on the half-dollar . But not so fast , says Dr. John Marszalek , the executive director and managing editor of the Ulysses S. Grant Association . Calling him a `` beacon '' of the 19th century , Marszalek said Grant deserves to keep his prominent spot on America 's currency . `` His work in battling against inflation and getting the currency on stable footing opened the way for the economy boom of the late 19th century , Marszalek told CNN . `` I do n't know why he would n't be included , except people forget . It 's been a long time . '' Marszalek also named a host of other Grant accomplishments , including efforts to promote the rights of freed slaves and native Americans , as well as his post-presidency , two-year tour of the world during which he negotiated the settlement of a dispute between Japan and China . But the Grant administration was also beset by major scandals -- close to a dozen in all -- which is a primary reason that Grant had difficulty working with Congress and why many modern historians continue to rank the 18th president relatively low . Still , Marszalek says Grant 's death in 1885 was a `` national phenomenon '' and is `` still the biggest funeral any American has had to this day . '' Grant supporters can rest easy for now , though -- the future of the legislation is highly in doubt . It would first have to clear the House Financial Services Committee where at least one Democrat is already expressing his opposition to the move . `` History has made its verdict , '' Rep. Brad Sherman of California told CNN . `` Reagan 's policies are controversial . Grant was in favor of winning the Civil War and keeping the Union together . The currency is not a place to score cheap political points . '' It 's not the first time Republican lawmakers have sought to immortalize Reagan 's image on American currency . In 2004 , Rep. Mark Souder introduced legislation to put Reagan on the dime in place of Roosevelt . Souder dropped the move after Nancy Reagan publicly opposed the measure . In the years since Reagan 's death , GOP lawmakers have also considered , though abandoned , legislation placing Reagan on the $ 10 bill , in place of Alexander Hamilton , and on the $ 20 bill , in place of Andrew Jackson .
Congressman says he will introduce a measure to put Reagan 's face on the $ 50 bill . Rep. Patrick McHenry : Reagan `` transformed our nation 's political and economic thinking '' Grant scholar : 18th president deserves to keep his prominent spot on U.S. currency . Comment: