[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 444 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 444

   Recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American 
 Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 22, 2018

  Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Udall, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Hirono, Ms. 
  Harris, Ms. Heitkamp, Ms. Warren, Mr. Tester, Ms. Smith, Ms. Cortez 
Masto, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Daines, 
 Mr. Lankford, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Klobuchar, 
and Mr. Sanders) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on Indian Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American 
 Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States.

Whereas the United States celebrates National Women's History Month every March 
        to recognize and honor the achievements of women throughout the history 
        of the United States;
Whereas an estimated 3,081,000 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native 
        Hawaiian women live in the United States;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women helped shape 
        the history of their communities, Tribes, and the United States;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women contribute to 
        their communities, Tribes, and the United States through work in many 
        industries, including business, education, science, medicine, 
        literature, fine arts, military service, and public service;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have fought to 
        defend and protect the sovereign rights of Native Nations;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have 
        demonstrated resilience and courage in the face of a history of 
        threatened existence, constant removals, and relocations;
Whereas more than 6,000 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian 
        women bravely serve as members of the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas more than 17,000 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian 
        women are veterans who have made lasting contributions to the United 
        States military;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women broke down 
        historical gender barriers to enlistment in the military, including--

    (1) Inupiat Eskimo sharpshooter Laura Beltz Wright of the Alaska 
Territorial Guard during World War II; and

    (2) Minnie Spotted Wolf of the Blackfeet Tribe, the first Native 
American woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps in 1943;

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have made the 
        ultimate sacrifice for the United States, including Lori Ann Piestewa, a 
        member of the Hopi Tribe and the first woman in the United States 
        military killed in the Iraq War in 2003;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have 
        contributed to the economic development of Native Nations and the United 
        States as a whole, including Elouise Cobell of the Blackfeet Tribe, a 
        recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, who--

    (1) served as the treasurer of her Tribe;

    (2) founded the first Tribally owned national bank; and

    (3) led the fight against Federal mismanagement of funds held in trust 
for more than 500,000 Native Americans;

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women own an 
        estimated 154,900 businesses;
Whereas these Native women-owned businesses employ more than 50,000 workers and 
        generate over $10,000,000,000 in revenues as of 2016;
Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native women have opened an average of more 
        than 17 new businesses each day since 2007;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have made 
        significant contributions to the field of medicine, including Susan La 
        Flesche Picotte of the Omaha Tribe, who is widely acknowledged as the 
        first Native American to earn a medical degree;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have 
        contributed to important scientific advancements, including--

    (1) Floy Agnes Lee of Santa Clara Pueblo, who--

    G    (A) worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II; and

    G    (B) pioneered research on radiation biology and cancer; and

    (2) Native Hawaiian Isabella Kauakea Yau Yung Aiona Abbott, who--

    G    (A) was the first woman on the biological sciences faculty at 
Stanford University; and

    G    (B) was awarded the highest award in marine botany from the 
National Academy of Sciences, the Gilbert Morgan Smith medal, in 1997;

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have achieved 
        distinctive honors in the art of dance, including Maria Tall Chief of 
        the Osage Nation the first major prima ballerina of the United States 
        and was a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy 
        Center;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have 
        accomplished notable literary achievements, including Northern Paiute 
        author Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins who wrote and published one of the first 
        Native American autobiographies in United States history in 1883;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have regularly 
        led efforts to revitalize and maintain Native cultures and languages, 
        including--

    (1) Tewa linguist and teacher Esther Martinez, who developed a Tewa 
dictionary and was credited with revitalizing the Tewa language; and

    (2) Native Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui, who published more than 
50 academic works and was considered the most noted Hawaiian translator of 
the 20th century;

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have excelled 
        in athletic competition and created opportunities for other female 
        athletes within their sport, including Rell Kapoliokaehukai Sunn who--

    (1) ranked as longboard surfing champion of the world; and

    (2) co-founded the Women's Professional Surfing Association in 1975, 
the first professional surfing tour for women;

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have played a 
        vital role in advancing civil rights, protecting human rights, and 
        safeguarding the environment, including Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich 
        of the Tlingit Nation who helped secure the passage of the Anti-
        Discrimination Act of 1945 of the Alaska Territory, the first anti-
        discrimination law in the United States;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have succeeded 
        as judges, attorneys, and legal advocates, including Eliza ``Lyda'' 
        Conley, a Wyandot-American lawyer and the first Native woman admitted to 
        argue a case before the United States Supreme Court in 1909;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have paved the 
        way for women in the law, including Native Hawaiian Emma Kailikapiolono 
        Metcalf Beckley Nakuina who served as the first female judge in Hawaii;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women are dedicated 
        public servants, holding important positions in State governments, local 
        governments, the Federal judicial branch, and the Federal executive 
        branches;
Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native women have served as remarkable Tribal 
        councilwomen, Tribal court judges, and Tribal leaders, including Wilma 
        Mankiller, the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the 
        Cherokee Nation who fought for Tribal self-determination and improvement 
        of the community infrastructure of her Tribe;
Whereas Native Hawaiian women have also led their People through notable acts of 
        public service, including Kaahumanu who was the first Native Hawaiian 
        woman to serve as regent of the Kingdom of Hawaii;
Whereas the United States should continue to invest in the future of American 
        Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women to address the barriers 
        they face, including access to justice, health care, and opportunities 
        for educational and economic advancement; and
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women are the life 
        givers, the culture bearers, and the caretakers of Native peoples who 
        have made precious contributions enriching the lives of all people of 
        the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) celebrates and honors the successes of American Indian, 
        Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and the contributions 
        they have made and continue to make to the United States; and
            (2) recognizes the importance of supporting equity, 
        providing safety, and upholding the interests of American 
        Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women.
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