[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2595-S2596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate National 
Women's History Month.
  This is an important national observance that reminds us to celebrate 
the immense accomplishments and everlasting contributions of women. 
Women have helped shape our society since the first settlers landed on 
America's shores, and women continue to lead us into the future.
  It is important that we remember the efforts of women such as Harriet 
Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 
Madeleine Albright, Maya Angelou, Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Friedan, Ruth 
Bader Ginsburg, Billie Jean King, Margaret Mead, Sacagawea, and Chien-
Shiung Wu. We celebrate the diverse contributions of each of these 
remarkable women to all facets of American society.
  The State of New Jersey is home to many commendable women. Alice 
Paul, Elizabeth Coleman White, Mary Norton, and Mary Roebling are just 
a few.
  Alice Paul was as a leader of the women's suffrage movement, founder 
of the National Women's Party, and author of the equal rights 
amendment. This longtime activist for women's equality is well known 
for picketing the White House, which landed her in jail during the 
summer of 1917 but helped secure women's right to vote. Few have had as 
great an impact on American history as Alice Paul.
  Elizabeth Coleman White was born on her family's cranberry farm in 
New Lisbon, NJ. She partnered with Frederick Coville on her farm to 
create the first commercial crop of blueberries. Ms. White was also the 
first person to use a cellophane wrap in fruit shipment.
  Mary Norton was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1924 
and served in Congress for 26 years. She was a member of the famous 
Petticoat Front in the 80th Congress, which was a bipartisan group of 
women who fought to gain equal footing with men as legislators. At the 
time, only seven women served in the Congress. Today, thanks in part to 
Mary Norton's pioneering efforts, a record 84 women are Members of 
Congress.
  Mary Roebling was the first woman to head a major commercial bank, 
the Trenton Trust Company, and in 1958 she became the first female 
governor of the New York Stock Exchange. She has proven that women can 
be just as successful in the business world, and any sector, as men.

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  These four women are only a handful of those who deserve recognition 
for their contributions to America.
  In 1981, Congress passed a resolution establishing National Women's 
History Week, which coincides with International Women's Day. At the 
request of the National Women's History Project, this was expanded to a 
month in 1987. I have always been proud to support this effort.
  I hope that National Women's History Month will continue to help 
educate Americans about women's accomplishments and inspire more women 
to reach for the stars.

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