[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 76 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            H. CON. RES. 413

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 2, 2004

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution 
honoring the contributions of the more than 6 million American women, 
symbolized by ``Rosie the Riveter'', who served our country on the 
homefront during World War II and the changes to our society that came 
about because of them. These women stepped forward when our country 
needed them to work as engineers and welders and riveters to produce 
the ships and planes and tanks necessary for us to win the war.
  I recently visited a factory in Athens, New York, that makes electric 
boats. They told me that even in this town of less than 4000 people, 
this boat factory was filled with women workers during World War II. 
The women factory workers made hundreds of thousands of life rafts to 
support the troops serving at sea. The whole country turned into a big 
factory to support the war effort, and the women workers were the force 
behind that factory.
  The legacy of Rosie the Riveter is a broadening of opportunities to 
all Americans. For the first time in America, during World War II, 
women and minorities gained access to high-paying jobs in industry. 
Employee-sponsored health care and services such as child care for 
children of workers originated at this time. I join my colleagues today 
in applauding the improvements in the workplace and our society during 
the Rosie the Riveter Era and in honoring these women for stepping 
forward when their country needed them.

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