[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 39 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2687-S2688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WOMEN: BUILDERS OF COMMUNITIES AND DREAMS

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today in celebration of Women's 
History Month during which we as a Nation reflect on the momentous 
contributions women have made over the course of American history. 
Throughout our history, women have played vital roles that have helped 
initiate and guide important social, economic and political change, 
which has helped to solidify the greatness and prosperity of this 
Nation. I also want to, in turn, acknowledge that, while great strides 
have been made, there are still many barriers to equality that must be 
overcome.
  This year's theme for Women's History Month is Women: Builders of 
Communities and Dreams. This theme recognizes the efforts of women in 
laying the foundation for greater equality and in building and 
buttressing movements that have resulted in profound change.
  Of course, the foundation of all of our lives begins with our own 
communities, homes and families. We must not forget to honor the 
contributions of the women closest to us in their roles as mothers, 
grandmothers, wives, sisters, daughters, friends, and mentors--who 
transform and nurture us on a daily basis. As mothers and grandmothers, 
women spend each and every day building healthy, educated, productive, 
and happy families.
  Building families goes hand in hand with building communities and a 
better society as a whole. Women have been at the forefront of this 
Nation's major social movements. One example is Anne Hutchinson, who in 
1637 was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony because her beliefs 
ran contrary to Puritan teachings. Her courageous stand in the face of 
persecution helped lay the groundwork for religious freedom as a right. 
Even when their own rights were severely restricted, women rose up to 
fight for the rights of others. During the abolitionist movement, the 
social reform movement, the labor movement, and the civil rights 
movement, women emerged as leaders in the drive to make our society 
fairer and better for all Americans. During the civil rights movement, 
courageous women such as Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and Ella Baker 
helped break down the walls of racism and ensure that equal justice was 
had by all regardless of the color of their skin.
  The State of Maryland has a rich history of such leaders, including 
Harriet Tubman, who courageously led a shackled people to freedom via 
the Underground Railroad; Margaret Brent, who became America's first 
woman lawyer and landholder; and Clara Barton, founder and first 
president of the American Red Cross. Likewise, equality in the field of 
medicine was facilitated with the aid of Mary Elizabeth Garret and 
Martha Carey Thomas, whose financial support led to the establishment 
of the Johns Hopkins Medical School, after it was promised that women 
would not be excluded from admission. We in Maryland are particularly 
proud of Senator Barbara Mikulski who is Maryland's first female 
Senator and has served longer than any other woman currently in the 
Senate. In fact, it was Senator Mikulski who sponsored legislation 
establishing National Women's History Week, the precursor to Woman's 
History Month, in 1981. Maryland is also the birthplace of another 
distinguished public servant, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, 
whose historic political career took root in the State of Maryland. 
Leader Pelosi, who hails from a legendary political family in 
Baltimore, is the first woman in our Nation's history to lead a major 
political party in Congress. And, in 2006, Maryland leads the country 
in the number of women serving in the State legislature.
  Over the last 50 years, more women have entered the workforce and 
attained rights previously unavailable.

[[Page S2688]]

But this does not mean that, as a Nation, we have erased the adversity 
and discrimination that continues to stifle equality. According to the 
U.S. Census, women who work full time, year-round, earned 76 cents for 
every dollar their male counterparts earned. Gaps in health care 
coverage affect millions of Americans and women, especially those 
living in poverty, face significant barriers to receiving care. Access 
to preventative measures unique to ensuring a woman's health, such as 
screenings for breast and cervical cancer, has been harder to achieve 
in recent years and participation rates for such screenings have 
declined since 2001. Such inequalities are very troubling, and we must 
continue to work to ensure that these disparities are eradicated for 
the sake of future generations.
  It is a privilege to commemorate and appreciate the women who have 
made an indelible impact on our lives and the history of this country. 
I encourage my colleagues to take Women's History Month as a time to 
reflect on the contributions of women, but also as a time to redouble 
our efforts to ensure that these achievements are retained and to work 
toward the goal of full equality.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of Women's 
History Month. As one of the 14 women in the United States Senate, I 
consider this tribute of the highest importance. This year's theme for 
the month is ``Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams.'' There is no 
better time to salute the work women around the world have done at home 
and abroad to empower communities.
  I am proud to come from the State where Women's History Month was 
conceived in 1978. Almost 30 years ago, the education task force of the 
Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in California first 
established Women's History Week in recognition of the achievements of 
women. This was soon expanded into a month-long celebration, realizing 
the dream of honoring women in a special way each year.
  Women's History Month recognizes those who continually strive for 
greatness. One that comes to mind is Mary Helen Rogers, who passed away 
earlier this month. She dedicated her life to protecting African 
American families in San Francisco from urban displacement. While 
raising 12 children, she became an expert in housing laws. She helped 
start the Western Addition Community Organization, which forced the 
city to assist the residents it displaced. She later went on to serve 
as the San Francisco Housing Authority's community relations manager. 
Mary Helen Rogers demonstrated through her life's work the importance 
of community activism and the power of an individual to inspire action 
in those around her.
  Just last month we lost another very special woman--Dana Reeve, the 
widow of actor Christopher Reeve. Her commitment to spinal cord injury 
research and loving dedication to her husband was unmatched. Since 
Chris' death, she carried his spirit with her in her drive to push 
Congress to expand embryonic stem cell research. Dana was the face of 
the fight on behalf of patients across the country with spinal cord 
injury, Parkinson's, juvenile diabetes and countless other illnesses. 
Her passing should serve as call for expansion of embryonic stem cell 
research. Mrs. Reeve's steadfast loyalty and compassionate care serves 
as an example to all women. She will be missed.
  In Los Angeles, ``Sweet'' Alice Harris has been a leader in her 
community for over 40 years. Her steadfast commitment to the community 
through parent organizations, emergency relief, and youth programs, has 
made her an example of true community leadership.
  As American women, we share a common history: It is a history of 
fighting for many of the rights and opportunities for which today's 
young women will prosper. We have come a long way from the days when 
women had no right to vote, no right to own property, and had extremely 
limited inheritance or child custody rights.
  It wasn't until the Women's Property Act of 1839 that women gained 
land entitlement. The women's suffrage movement began in 1848; however 
the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote, did not come to 
pass until 72 long years later, in 1920. It is a right for which our 
predecessors worked hard for. We owe it to them to fulfill our civic 
duty.
  Today, American women are active in every sphere of our society. We 
have made our mark in this country's private and public sectors. Over 
65 million women are a part of the American workforce. There are over 
10 million woman-owned businesses. Women represent our Nation around 
the world. Many proudly wear our Nation's uniform.
  Much has changed for over the past century. But make no mistake; much 
more needs to be done. We must provide improved health care and 
educational and workforce support for our Nation's women. We need to 
eliminate violence against women. We need to ensure that women continue 
to have the right to choose and autonomy over their bodies.
  Violence against women is intolerable. Every 15 seconds a woman is 
battered, and each day four women die from domestic violence. Women 
should not be threatened by fear and violence. This is why the Violence 
Against Women Act reauthorization is such an important piece of 
legislation.
  We also need to improve healthcare in our Nation. Breast cancer 
continues to be a serious threat to women in this country. One out of 
seven American women will develop the disease, and nearly 41,000 will 
die from it this year. We must commit ourselves to finding a cure for 
this disease which affects women regardless of race, class, or 
religion.
  As the sponsor of the breast cancer research stamp, I am proud to say 
that since its inception in 1998, the stamp has helped raise nearly $50 
million. These funds go a long way to help fund research and increase 
public awareness for this devastating disease. I am also supporting the 
National Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute legislative 
efforts to ensure that women undergoing mastectomy and lumpectomy 
surgeries are protected during their hospital stays. By continuing to 
prioritize investment in research, it is my hope that we can reach the 
goal of eradicating breast cancer by 2015.
  Pregnant women must be provided with access to clinical care and 
parenting support. The U.S. infant mortality rate is 35th in the world. 
We must change this. Providing mothers with proper nutrition and 
healthy lifestyle education is key to combating preventable illnesses 
and deaths in mothers and children. Additionally, women are balancing 
careers with families more than ever, creating the need for affordable, 
quality childcare options.
  Women are also in the midst of the war in Iraq, and we need to honor 
these women fighting to protect this country and for the dreams of 
those women who have been oppressed in Iraq and Afghanistan for too 
long.
  Women began enlisting in the military at the start of World War I. 
Today women are serving in Iraq in record numbers. Women in the armed 
services make up 15 percent of active duty personnel. There have been 
nearly 2,000 California female deployments since 9/11. They do jobs 
that range from intelligence officers to doctors, to ground soldiers.
  In Louisiana, Hurricane Katrina swept communities away in an instant. 
In the areas hardest hit by Katrina, 56 percent of families are headed 
by women, who are now taking the lead role in rebuilding the homes and 
lives their families and neighbors once knew. They deserve our help and 
support. It is only through their efforts that communities in New 
Orleans can thrive once again.
  I salute the women leading the way in building stronger communities 
in California and across the Nation. They continue to lead and inspire 
us all. It is through their tenacity, strength, and passion that we see 
the transformation of dreams into realities. I have great hope for 
future generations of women, but we must protect and expand the 
cherished rights of today's women, so that they may continue to serve 
their communities and realize their dreams.

                          ____________________