[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 96 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 96


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 27, 2005

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the significance of African American women in the United 
                      States scientific community.

Whereas African American women, once considered nontraditional participants in 
        the United States scientific community, have become an indispensable 
        part of the new technology society;
Whereas although women comprise approximately 25 percent of the 427,740 
        individuals employed in the United States workforce who hold a science 
        and engineering doctoral


degree, African American women comprise less than one percent of such 
individuals;

Whereas a skilled workforce is the essential fuel to propel the United States 
        economy and ensure a high quality of life, and it is absolutely critical 
        to the success of the economy to produce a scientifically literate 
        workforce;
Whereas for these reasons, it is crucial for the United States to continue to 
        aggressively recruit more minority and women students into careers in 
        science and technology;
Whereas to improve the numbers of African American youth pursuing science, 
        especially young women, it is crucial to provide strong scientific minds 
        for them to look up to and emulate;
Whereas very little literature documents African American women and their place 
        in science;
Whereas commemorating the achievements of African American women at the very top 
        of the performance curve demonstrates to the world the importance of 
        diversity in the workforce; and
Whereas Dr. Ruth Ella Moore (who in 1933 became the first African American woman 
        to earn a Ph.D. in natural science from the Ohio State University), Dr. 
        Roger Arliner Young (who in 1940 became the first African American woman 
        to receive a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Pennsylvania), Dr. 
        Euphemia Lofton Haynes (who in 1943 became the first African American 
        woman to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics from the Catholic University of 
        America), Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson (who in 1973 became the first African 
        American woman to receive a Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts 
        Institute of Technology), and Dr. Mae Jemison (a physician and the first 
        African American woman in space) represent only a few of the African 
        American women who have broken through many barriers to achieve 
        greatness in science: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress acknowledges and recognizes the significant achievements 
and contributions of African American women scientists, mathematicians, 
and inventors and supports the establishment of a special day on which 
these great minds may be honored and esteemed.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 26, 2005.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.