[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 121 (Thursday, September 30, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1755]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRI-VALLEY NOW

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2004

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Tauscher and I rise today to pay tribute 
to the 30th Anniversary of the Tri-Valley Chapter of the National 
Organization for Women (NOW). The Tri-Valley Chapter represents the 
cities of Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore, California.
  Attendees at the Third National Conference of the Commission on the 
Status of Women established the National Organization for Women on June 
30, 1966 in Washington, DC. The Commission on the Status of Women 
reported in 1963, that despite having won the right to vote, women in 
the United States were still discriminated against in virtually every 
aspect of life. In 1974, eight years following the Commission's report, 
Tri-Valley NOW was founded during a national surge in women's activism.
  The year 1974 was a time of upheaval and change. President Nixon 
resigned and Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as President. That 
year's number one television show, ``All in the Family,'' was a 
controversial reflection of the social struggles of the time. Title IX, 
the federal law aimed at providing equal educational opportunities, was 
in its infancy.
  Local women in the Tri-Valley area, such as Dorris Lee, Denise Gordon 
and Jean Felton could not sit on the sidelines during this stage of 
change. They took action and, with encouragement from Contra Costa NOW, 
they planned the Tri-Valley NOW's first meeting in 1974, which featured 
guest speakers from East Bay NOW.
  Since that first meeting of a handful of like-minded feminists in a 
Livermore, California office, NOW's Tri-Valley chapter has grown to 
more than 150 members, both women and men.
  For 30 years, Tri-Valley NOW has taken action to achieve equality for 
women. Its members have actively supported women candidates for public 
office, battled for equal rights and opportunities in the workplace and 
classroom, written hundreds of letters to editors and legislators, 
endured the struggle to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and staged 
countless demonstrations for positive social change.
  Tri-Valley NOW looks back on the last 30 years with great pride in 
their achievements and deep appreciation for their founding mothers. We 
agree with their statement that ``there is much work to be done and we 
will continue to strive for NOW's goal of equality for all women.'' NOW 
has our full support to help achieve this goal.

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