[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1109 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1109

Recognizing the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 and honoring 
 the courageous suffragists who fought tirelessly for women's right to 
                                 vote.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 26, 2024

Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer, Mrs. Beatty, 
  Ms. Norton, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Mr. 
   Neguse, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mrs. 
  Napolitano, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mrs. McBath, Ms. Crockett, Ms. 
    Budzinski, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Mullin, Mr. 
  Deluzio, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Lee of 
  Pennsylvania, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Titus, Mr. 
 Davis of Illinois, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Carson, Ms. Brown, Mr. Grijalva, 
  Mr. Soto, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Brownley, Ms. 
 Stansbury, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Allred, Mrs. Dingell, 
 Ms. Craig, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Garcia of 
    Texas, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Schakowsky, Mrs. 
Foushee, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Peters, Ms. Scholten, Ms. Adams, 
 Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Espaillat, and Mr. Gottheimer) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 and honoring 
 the courageous suffragists who fought tirelessly for women's right to 
                                 vote.

Whereas women have long been denied the right to participate fully in the 
        democratic process, facing discrimination and disenfranchisement solely 
        based on their gender;
Whereas the Women's Suffrage Movement emerged in the late 19th and early 20th 
        centuries as a powerful force advocating for the fundamental right of 
        women to vote and have a voice in shaping the future of their country;
Whereas, Alice Paul, Chair of the Congressional Committee of the National 
        American Woman Suffrage Association, championed a shift toward Federal 
        action, citing the slow progress and high costs associated with State-
        by-State referendums on women's suffrage;
Whereas Paul organized a procession on March 3, 1913, to persuade incoming 
        President Woodrow Wilson of the necessity for a constitutional amendment 
        for national women's suffrage;
Whereas, on March 3, 1913, the streets of Washington, DC, filled with thousands 
        of women clad in suffragist white and carrying banners emblazoned with 
        demands for equal rights and voting privileges;
Whereas, Inez Milholland, a notable suffragist and labor lawyer, led the 
        procession atop a white horse named ``Grey Dawn'', symbolizing the 
        suffragists' definition of how a new woman of the 20th century dressed 
        and behaved;
Whereas the marchers began their journey from the Capitol Grounds and made their 
        way along Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Treasury Building, with 
        additional participants waiting at the end of the route in the 
        grandstand set up for the next day's inauguration;
Whereas the suffragists waved banners and placards bearing slogans such as 
        ``Votes for Women'' and ``We Demand An Amendment To The Constitution of 
        the United States Enfranchising the Women Of This Country'';
Whereas the procession featured marchers organized into seven sections, 
        including women from countries with suffrage rights, representatives of 
        various occupations, sororities and women's clubs, including members of 
        Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and State delegations, highlighting 
        the diverse and widespread support for the suffrage cause;
Whereas, despite initial expectations of a 45-minute procession, the event 
        lasted several hours, drawing an estimated crowd of up to half a million 
        spectators, including many in Washington, DC, for Wilson's inauguration;
Whereas, in the face of immense opposition, including verbal harassment and 
        physical assaults, suffragists were resilient and determined to continue 
        their march for equality;
Whereas, despite the joint resolution to keep the procession route clear, 
        spectators at Fifth Street obstructed the path, forcing the marchers to 
        navigate through a hostile crowd;
Whereas suffragists were subjected to taunts and attacks, including sexual 
        propositions and being told to ``go home'' by hostile onlookers;
Whereas the violence escalated to the point where at least 100 protesters 
        required medical attention, and medical professionals had to navigate 
        through the crowd to reach the injured marchers;
Whereas, despite the challenges and dangers they faced, many suffragists pressed 
        on and completed the route, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to 
        the cause;
Whereas the visual spectacle of the procession conveyed the breadth and depth of 
        women's desire for the franchise;
Whereas the Woman Suffrage Procession demanded equal voting rights for women and 
        drew attention to the urgent need for political and social reform to 
        achieve gender equality;
Whereas, as the marchers reached their destination at the gates of the Treasury 
        Building, they urged incoming President Woodrow Wilson to support the 
        cause of women's suffrage and champion legislation granting women the 
        right to vote;
Whereas when President-elect Wilson arrived in Washington, DC, for the next 
        day's inauguration to little fanfare, one of the incoming President's 
        staff asked, ``Where are all the people?'', and was told ``Watching the 
        suffrage parade'', by police on hand;
Whereas the images of that historic procession, captured for posterity in 
        newspapers and photographs, seared themselves into the collective 
        consciousness of the Nation, serving as a stark reminder of the 
        unfinished work of democracy and the urgent need for change;
Whereas the overwhelming support and extensive media coverage of the Woman 
        Suffrage Procession propelled the movement to the forefront of national 
        attention;
Whereas the spotlight shed on the procession became a focal point in the ongoing 
        struggle for women's suffrage, galvanizing public discourse and 
        garnering widespread support for the cause;
Whereas the bravery and perseverance of the suffragists who participated in the 
        Woman Suffrage Procession catalyzed the women's suffrage movement into a 
        national effort focused on Federal legislative change;
Whereas the relentless advocacy of suffragists like Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, 
        who led the charge at the Woman Suffrage Procession, laid the groundwork 
        for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States 
        Constitution, which granted women the right to vote in 1920;
Whereas, as we commemorate this pivotal moment in the history of the women's 
        rights movement, let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding the 
        principles of equality and democracy for all, ensuring that the 
        sacrifices made by the suffragists are honored and their legacy 
        preserved for future generations;
Whereas the Woman Suffrage Procession underscored the urgent need for Federal 
        voting rights legislation;
Whereas Federal legislation provides valuable protections in ensuring the right 
        to vote for all citizens;
Whereas the imperative for Federal voting laws remains paramount, guaranteeing 
        universal access to the ballot box and transcending the limitations of 
        State jurisdiction;
Whereas, despite the progress made since the passage of the 19th Amendment, 
        significant barriers to voting rights and access persist for many 
        marginalized communities, including women of color;
Whereas it is imperative to recognize the intersectional nature of the struggle 
        for voting rights, acknowledging that women of color, particularly Black 
        women, faced not only sexism, but also racism during the Woman Suffrage 
        Procession and continue to face systemic barriers to political 
        participation; and
Whereas the ongoing fight for voting rights echoes the struggles of the 
        suffragists who bravely marched in 1913, reminding us of the importance 
        of defending and expanding democracy for all Americans: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commemorates the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 
        1913 and honors the courageous suffragists who fought 
        tirelessly for women's right to vote;
            (2) recognizes the enduring significance of the Women's 
        Suffrage Movement in advancing gender equality and political 
        participation in the United States;
            (3) reaffirms its commitment to upholding and protecting 
        voting rights for all Americans, regardless of gender, race, or 
        socioeconomic status;
            (4) condemns all forms of voter suppression and 
        discrimination that undermine the integrity of our democracy 
        and disenfranchise marginalized communities;
            (5) calls for renewed efforts to dismantle systemic 
        barriers to voting and ensure equitable access to the ballot 
        box for every citizen; and
            (6) pledges to continue working toward a more inclusive and 
        representative democracy that reflects all Americans' voices 
        and experiences.
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