[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H1575-H1576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, March is Women's History Month, and I come 
to the floor of the House this evening to salute the mothers of Women's 
History Month, the National Women's History Project, known as ``The 
Project.'' The Project is from the 6th Congressional District in 
California, the district that I am proud to represent.
  About a year ago I traveled to Seneca Falls, New York to celebrate 
with my colleagues and our Nation's women the 150th anniversary of the 
women's rights movement. This was truly a special occasion because 
Sonoma County, which is my home district, is the birthplace of the 
National Women's History Project, the organization responsible for the 
establishment of women's history month and a leader in the 150th 
anniversary of the women's rights celebration.
  The Project, the Women's History Project, is a nonprofit educational 
organization founded in 1980, committed to providing education and 
resources to recognize and celebrate women's diverse lives and historic 
contributions to society. Today they are repeatedly cited by educators, 
publishers, and journalists as the national resource for information on 
U.S. women's history.
  Thanks to the Project's effort, every March boys and girls across the 
country recognize and learn about women's struggles and contributions 
in science, literature, business, politics, and every other field of 
endeavor.
  As recently as 1970, women's history was virtually unknown, left out 
of school books, left out of classroom curriculum. In 1978, I was the 
chairwoman of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. At 
that time, I was astounded by the lack of focus on women.
  Under the leadership of Mary Ruthsdotter and through the hard work of 
these women, the celebration of International Women's Day was expanded 
and declared by Congress to be National Women's History Week. Together, 
the women of my district and the Project succeeded in nationalizing 
awareness of women's history.
  As word of the celebration's success spread across the country, State 
Departments of Education honored Women's History Week; and, within a 
few years, thousands of schools and communities nationwide were 
celebrating National Women's History Week every March.
  In 1987, The Project petitioned Congress to expand the national 
celebration to the entire month of March. Due to their efforts, 
Congress issued a resolution declaring the month of March to be Women's 
History Month. Each year since then, nationwide programs and activities 
on women's history in schools, workplaces, and communities have been 
developed and shared.
  In honor of Women's History Month, I want to praise Mary Ruthsdotter, 
Molly MacGregor, and Bonnie Eisenberg, who are the birth mothers for 
this very notion, which makes me, by the way, the midwife. I want to 
acknowledge Lisl Christy, Cindy Burnham, Jennifer Josephine Moser, 
Suanne Otteman, Donna Kuhn, Sunny Bristol, Denise Dawe, Kathryn Rankin, 
and Sheree Fisk Williams. These are the women now working at the 
Project. All of these women serve as leaders in the effort to educate 
Americans of all ages. They educate them about the contributions of 
women in our society.
  Under strong and thoughtful leadership by Molly MacGregor, the 
National Women's History Project educated America about the 150th 
anniversary of the women's rights movement.
  The Project was repeatedly called upon by the National Park Service, 
in particular the Women's Rights National Historical Park, to help them 
integrate women's history into their exhibits. Their ``Living the 
Legacy of Women's Rights'' theme also made it possible for thousands of 
communities, local schools, employers, and businesses to support and 
celebrate the 150th anniversary. The Project also launched a media 
campaign which educated the press about the proud history of the 
women's movement.

[[Page H1576]]

  Further, the Project has been recognized for outstanding 
contributions to women and children and their education by the National 
Education Association; for diversity in education by the National 
Association For Multicultural Education; and for scholarship, service, 
and advocacy by the Center for Women's Policy Studies.
  As I pay tribute to women's history month, I am truly grateful to all 
the devoted women at the National Women's History Project for their 
continued commitment and for making an indelible mark on our country.

                          ____________________