[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 249 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 249

Honoring the life and legacy of the first woman to serve in the United 
 States Congress, Jeannette Pickering Rankin, on the 100th anniversary 
                    of her swearing-in to Congress.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 5, 2017

    Mrs. Brooks of Indiana (for herself, Ms. Jenkins of Kansas, Ms. 
   Sanchez, Mr. Gowdy, Mrs. Bustos, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Lawrence, Mrs. 
  Demings, Ms. Frankel of Florida, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Granger, Mr. 
 Mitchell, Mrs. Mimi Walters of California, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Ms. 
  Lee, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. 
   Speier, Ms. Adams, Mrs. Beatty, Mrs. Radewagen, Ms. Stefanik, Ms. 
McSally, Ms. Herrera Beutler, Mrs. Hartzler, Mrs. Noem, Mr. Johnson of 
Ohio, Mr. Costello of Pennsylvania, Mr. Scalise, Mr. Carter of Georgia, 
 Mrs. Comstock, Ms. Foxx, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mrs. Walorski, Mrs. Love, 
  Mr. Meehan, Mr. Paulsen, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Renacci, Mr. Olson, Mr. 
 Issa, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Stewart, and Mrs. 
  Roby) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                   Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the life and legacy of the first woman to serve in the United 
 States Congress, Jeannette Pickering Rankin, on the 100th anniversary 
                    of her swearing-in to Congress.

Whereas Jeannette Pickering Rankin was born June 11, 1880, near Missoula, 
        Montana;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin studied at Montana State University, the New York 
        School of Philanthropy, and the University of Washington;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin began her work in public service as a social worker and 
        member of the women's suffrage movement, successfully campaigning to 
        achieve suffrage for women in Washington and Montana;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin successfully ran as a Republican and secured one of 
        Montana's two at-large congressional seats on November 7, 1916;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin became the first woman to serve in the United States 
        House of Representatives upon taking the oath of office on April 2, 
        1917, as a Member of the 65th Congress (1917-1919);
Whereas upon her election to Congress in 1916, Jeannette Rankin declared, ``I 
        may be the first woman in Congress, but I won't be the last.'', setting 
        an example for American women;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin served an instrumental role in the fight for women's 
        suffrage by serving on the House Committee on Woman Suffrage and opening 
        the first House floor debate on women's right to vote in 1918;
Whereas in her two terms as a Member of Congress, Jeannette Rankin served on the 
        House Committee on Insular Affairs and House Committee on Public Lands 
        and worked to address western and environmental issues;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin made history as the only Member of Congress to vote 
        against the involvement of the United States in both World War I and 
        World War II, standing firmly behind her pacifist convictions;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin continued to advocate for women and world peace beyond 
        her service in Congress by attending the Women's International 
        Conference for Permanent Peace in 1919, joining the Women's 
        International League for Peace and Freedom, founding the Georgia Pearce 
        Society, lobbying on the behalf of the National Council on the 
        Prevention of War, and advocating for nonviolence and peace during the 
        Vietnam war;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin died May 18, 1973, in Carmel, California;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin dedicated her life to public service, by giving back to 
        her communities, fighting for civil rights, and striving for peace;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin's groundbreaking achievement paved the way for hundreds 
        of women from across the country to make history in Congress, drawing 
        attention to the pressing issues of their time and creating policies 
        that have impacted generations of Americans; and
Whereas women have served in Congress for 100 years: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the life and accomplishments of the first 
        United States Congresswoman, Jeannette P. Rankin; and
            (2) commemorates 100 years of women serving in the United 
        States Congress.
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