[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING ANN BANCROFT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL LUTHER

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2001

  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, my home state of Minnesota is proud of its 
strong and historic pioneer spirit. The often-brutal winters of 
Minnesota that early inhabitants endured, however, are no match for the 
icy tundra of Antarctica, recently traversed by a woman from Scandia, 
Minnesota.
  Ann Bancroft is the first woman ever to cross the ice to the North 
and South Poles. She dogsledded 1,000 miles to the North Pole as the 
only female member of the Steger Expedition and led the 67-day American 
Women's Expedition to the South Pole on skis. Not content with these 
outstanding achievements, she also founded and led the nonprofit Ann 
Bancroft Foundation, dedicated to celebrating the successes of women 
and girls.
  In the true spirit of a pioneer, Ms. Bancroft not only crossed 
geographic boundaries, but she traveled across gender barriers as well 
to become an inspiration for women and girls around the globe. Her work 
continues to celebrate the potential and the victories of women every 
day. I want to take this opportunity to recognize Ann Bancroft for her 
bravery not only to go where no woman has gone before, but also for 
encouraging young women to reach for their own dreams.

                          ____________________