[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 563 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 563

     Designating March 2020 as ``National Women's History Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 6, 2020

  Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Cortez 
Masto, Mr. Markey, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, Mr. Booker, Ms. 
Stabenow, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Van 
 Hollen, Mr. Peters, Mr. Carper, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Brown, 
 Mr. King, Mr. Jones, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Harris, Mr. Reed, Mr. Merkley, 
Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Hyde-
   Smith, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Loeffler, Mr. Durbin, and Ms. Ernst) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Designating March 2020 as ``National Women's History Month''.

Whereas National Women's History Month recognizes and spreads awareness of the 
        importance of women in the history of the United States;
Whereas, throughout the history of the United States, whether in their homes, in 
        their workplaces, in schools, in the courts, or during wartime, women 
        have fought for themselves, their families, and all people of the United 
        States;
Whereas, even from the early days of the history of the United States, Abigail 
        Adams urged her husband to ``Remember the Ladies'' when representatives 
        met for the Continental Congress in 1776;
Whereas women were particularly important in the establishment of early 
        charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in the United 
        States;
Whereas women led the efforts to secure suffrage and equal opportunities for 
        women, and also served in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation 
        movement, labor movements, civil rights movements, and other causes to 
        create a more fair and just society for all;
Whereas suffragists wrote, marched, were arrested, and ultimately succeeded in 
        achieving--

    (1) the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the 
United States, which provides, ``The right of citizens of the United States 
to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any 
State on account of sex.''; and

    (2) the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et 
seq.), which extended the protection of the right to vote to women of color 
and language minorities;

Whereas, in 2020, the United States celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 
        ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United 
        States, which guarantees women the constitutional right to vote;
Whereas women have been and continue to be leaders in the forefront of social 
        change efforts, business, science, government, math, art, literature, 
        music, film, athletics, and other fields;
Whereas women now represent approximately half of the workforce of the United 
        States;
Whereas women once were routinely barred from attending medical schools in the 
        United States, but now are enrolling in medical schools in the United 
        States at higher numbers than men;
Whereas women previously were turned away from law school, but now represent 
        approximately half of law students in the United States;
Whereas, since the American Revolution, women have been vital to the mission of 
        the Armed Forces, with more than 200,000 women serving on active duty 
        and 2,000,000 women veterans representing every branch of service;
Whereas more than 10,000,000 women own businesses in the United States;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin of Montana was the first woman elected to the House of 
        Representatives in 1916 and Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas was the 
        first woman elected to the United States Senate in 1932;
Whereas Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was the first woman to serve in both 
        Houses of Congress;
Whereas, in 2020, a record total of 131 women are serving in Congress, including 
        105 women in the House of Representatives and 26 women in the Senate;
Whereas President Jimmy Carter recognized March 2 through 8, 1980, as ``National 
        Women's History Week'';
Whereas, in 1987, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced the first joint 
        resolution to pass Congress designating ``Women's History Month'';
Whereas, in 1987, President Ronald Reagan issued a Presidential proclamation 
        proclaiming March 1987 as ``Women's History Month''; and
Whereas, despite the advancements of women in the United States, much remains to 
        be done to ensure that women realize their full potential as equal 
        members of society in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates March 2020 as ``National Women's History 
        Month'';
            (2) recognizes the celebration of National Women's History 
        Month as a time to reflect on the many notable contributions 
        that women have made to the United States; and
            (3) urges the people of the United States to observe 
        National Women's History Month with appropriate programs and 
        activities.
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