[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2178-H2182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 149) supporting the goals of International
Women's Day.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 149
Whereas there are over 3,000,000,000 women in the world,
representing 51 percent of the world's population;
Whereas women continue to play the prominent role in caring
for families within the home as well as serving as economic
earners;
Whereas women worldwide are participating in the world of
diplomacy and politics, contributing to the growth of
economies, and improving the quality of the lives of their
families, communities, and nations;
Whereas women leaders have recently made significant
strides, including the 2007 election of Congresswoman Nancy
Pelosi as the first female Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the 2006 election of Michelle Bachelet as
the first female President of Chile, the 2006 election of
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as the first female President in
Africa's history, and the 2005 election of Angela Merkel as
the first female Chancellor of Germany, who will also serve
as the second woman to chair a G8 summit beginning in 2007;
Whereas women account for 80 percent of the world's 70
million micro-borrowers, 75 percent of the 28,000 United
States loans supporting small businesses in Afghanistan are
made to women, and 11 women are chief executive officers of
Fortune 500 companies;
Whereas in the United States, women are graduating from
high school at higher rates and are earning bachelors degrees
or higher degrees at greater rates than men, with 88 percent
of women between the ages of 25 and 29 having obtained a high
school diploma and 31 percent of women between the ages of 25
and 29 earning a bachelors degree or higher;
Whereas despite tremendous gains, women still face
political and economic obstacles, struggle for basic rights,
face the threat of discrimination, and are targets of
violence all over the world;
Whereas worldwide women remain vastly underrepresented in
national and local assemblies, accounting on average for less
than 10 percent of the seats in parliament, except for in
East Asia where the figure is approximately 18 to 19 percent,
and in no developing region do women hold more than 8 percent
of the ministerial positions;
Whereas women work two-thirds of the world's working hours
and produce half of the world's food, yet earn only 1 percent
of the world's income and own less than 1 percent of the
world's property;
Whereas in the United States between 1995 and 2000, female
managers earned less than their male counterparts in the 10
industries that employ the vast majority of all female
employees;
Whereas of the 1,300,000,000 people living in poverty
around the world, 70 percent are women and children;
Whereas according to the United States Agency for
International Development, two-thirds of the 876,000,000
illiterate individuals worldwide are women, two-thirds of the
125,000,000 school-aged children who are not attending school
worldwide are girls, and girls are less likely to complete
school than boys;
Whereas worldwide women account for half of all cases of
HIV/AIDS, approximately 42,000,000 cases, and in countries
with high HIV prevalence, young women are at a higher risk
than young men of contracting HIV;
Whereas globally, each year over 500,000 women die during
childbirth and pregnancy;
Whereas domestic violence causes more deaths and disability
among women between ages 15 and 44 than cancer, malaria,
traffic accidents, and war;
Whereas worldwide, at least 1 out of every 3 women and
girls has been beaten in her lifetime;
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, at least 1 out of every 6 women and girls in the
United States has been sexually abused in her lifetime;
Whereas worldwide, 130,000,000 girls and young women have
been subjected to female genital mutilation and it is
estimated that 10,000 girls are at risk of being subjected to
this practice in the United States;
Whereas according to the Congressional Research Service and
the Department of State, illegal trafficking in women and
children for forced labor, domestic servitude, or sexual
exploitation involves between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 women
and children each year, of whom 50,000 are transported into
the United States;
Whereas between 75 and 80 percent of the world's 27,000,000
refugees are women and children;
Whereas in times and places of conflict and war, women and
girls continue to be the focus of extreme violence and
intimidation and face tremendous obstacles to legal recourse
and justice;
Whereas March 8 has become known as International Women's
Day for the last century, and is a day on which people, often
divided by ethnicity, language, culture, and income, come
together to celebrate a common struggle for women's equality,
justice, and peace; and
Whereas the people of the United States should be
encouraged to participate in International Women's Day: Now
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals of International Women's Day;
(2) recognizes and honors the women in the United States
and in other countries who have fought and continue to
struggle for equality in the face of adversity;
(3) reaffirms its commitment to ending discrimination and
violence against women and girls, to ensuring the safety and
welfare of women and girls, and to pursuing policies that
guarantee the basic human rights of women and girls both in
the United States and in other countries; and
(4) encourages the President to--
(A) reaffirm his commitment to pursue policies to protect
fundamental human rights and civil liberties, particularly
those of women and girls; and
(B) issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the
United States to observe International Women's Day with
appropriate programs and activities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I
first want to thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) and
the other cosponsors of this resolution for recognizing International
Women's Day in honor of the contributions and achievements of women all
over the world and the importance of promoting and protecting their
rights.
I want to pay special tribute today to my distinguished female
colleagues on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, who are performing
their important responsibilities with distinction and honor. I also
want to recognize my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), who has achieved the distinction of
becoming the first woman to obtain the ranking position on this
committee.
Today, women all over the world are becoming leaders in science,
medicine, the arts, politics, business, and even the military.
Despite this progress, women and girls continue to represent the
majority of the poor, the chronically hungry, refugees, the HIV-
infected, the sick, the uneducated and the undereducated, the
unemployed and disenfranchised people.
Women are also subject to specific forms of physical and structural
violence and discrimination because of their gender. These include
sexual violence in both conflict and nonconflict situations, sex
trafficking, and domestic violence from their partners and family
members.
Cruel cultural practices targeted at women include denial of voting
rights, freedom of movement, and property rights. Women are also
subjected to genital mutilation, forced and early marriages,
humiliating and harmful
[[Page H2179]]
widow practices, bride burnings and honor killings. Women also continue
to experience an unequal remuneration for work of equal value,
discrimination in hiring and admission to educational institutions, and
lack of flexibility for special needs such as paid and extended family
leave.
It is not enough to simply declare the equality of women, condemn
their mistreatment, and increase the number of women in the workplace.
We must, in all sectors of society, address the structural mechanisms
which deny women and girls access to the same rights and opportunities
as boys and men.
{time} 1300
We must also attack and eliminate the criminal and cultural practices
which destroy the lives and freedom and the health of women.
Statistics prove that when women are better off in our society, their
children are happier, healthier and more educated, and our world is
better off.
I will do everything in my power to ensure that every piece of
legislation we consider in the committee will improve the security,
opportunity and prosperity of women, and I know my colleagues will
share this important goal.
In honor of our wives, our mothers, our daughters, our female
colleagues and our Speaker, and women around the world, I am proud to
support this resolution, and I urge all my colleagues to do the same.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I thank Ambassador Watson for her eloquent statements and as well as
for her leadership in our Foreign Affairs Committee.
Madam Speaker, I also rise in support of H. Res. 149, supporting the
goals of International Women's Day. International Women's Day has
developed into a day of recognition and celebration of the
contributions and social advancement of women.
I want to thank the author of this resolution, Representative
Schakowsky of Illinois, for accepting the suggested changes that we had
to her base text prior to the introduction and committee consideration.
These very modest clarifications emphasize that we are seeking to
promote for women and girls the full and equal enjoyment of those
fundamental human rights and civil liberties that are the birthright of
all people, regardless of gender, race or creed, not some separate of
gender-based claims or a problematic agenda related to abortion.
We must all advance the cause of human dignity by ending violence
against women and girls, by protecting their fundamental freedoms and
civil liberties, and promoting their genuine welfare through robust
educational and economic opportunities.
To the extent that International Women's Day serves those purposes,
it deserves our recognition.
I ask my colleagues to render their full support to this important
measure
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the author of the bill.
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding
to me and for her great support for this measure, and I also thank
Representative Ros-Lehtinen for her help for a long time making this
resolution possible today.
I do rise in support of H. Res. 149, the International Women's Day
resolution. I want to also thank Representative Judy Biggert, who is
the lead Republican sponsor, for her consistent support and work to
bring this resolution to the House floor. We have introduced this
resolution honoring women three times, and it has been a pleasure
working with her over the years.
Also, as the vice chair of the Women's Caucus, I am honored to have
this resolution to be the first of our top five priority agenda items
to make it to the House floor with such remarkable bipartisan support
under the leadership of the chairwomen, Lois Capps and Cathy McMorris
Rodgers. I appreciate their help.
Each year, countries around the world mark March 8 as International
Women's Day as a day to recognize the contributions and the impact that
women have made to our world's history, to recognize those women who
have worked for gender equality and to acknowledge the work that is yet
to be done.
Over the years, women have made significant strides. Women all over
the world and throughout history have consistently contributed to their
economies, participated in their governments and improved the quality
of life of their families and their Nations.
In 2007, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi became the first woman in the
history of the United States to be Speaker of the House. In 2006, I
attended the inauguration of Michelle Bachelet, the first woman
President of Chile, and visited in Liberia its President Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf, the first woman President in Africa's history. In the 110th
Congress, we have an all-time high of 74 women in Congress, a 35
percent increase from just 8 years ago. However, women still make up
only 16 percent of the House of Representatives.
In the United States, we have made significant strides in education.
In fact, women now graduate from high school at higher rates and earn
bachelor's or higher degrees at greater rates than men. While that is
true, yet two-thirds of the 876 million illiterate individuals in the
world are women. That is, two-thirds of them are women. Two-thirds of
the 125 million school-aged children who are not attending school
worldwide are girls, and girls are less likely to complete school than
boys elsewhere around the world.
Women are making progress in business, and women make up 11 of the
current CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. However, more progress still
needs to be made. While great strides have been made in business, women
still earn less, own less and have less access to education and
employment than men. Globally, while women work two-thirds of the
world's working hours and produce one-half of the world's food, we
still earn only 1 percent of the world's income and own less than 1
percent of the world's property. Of the 300 million people living in
poverty, 70 percent are girls and women.
Although Congress passed the PROTECT Act, a good bipartisan bill to
prevent trafficking, there are still millions of women and girls who
are trafficked, physically abused, sexually abused or face the threat
of violence every day. In Iraq, Darfur and Afghanistan, women and girls
continue to be the targets of extreme violence, brutality and
intimidation where they face overwhelming, if not insurmountable,
obstacles to legal recourse and justice. And in times of war and
conflict, although most women and children are not engaged in that
conflict, they continue to suffer the most.
So, Madam Speaker, it is important that Congress recognize the
importance of March 8 and participate with the rest of the world in
celebrating International Women's Day. Hopefully, the passage of this
critical resolution will help raise awareness of the work we need to do
and will help women continue to overcome the overwhelming obstacles
that are still left to be overcome.
We must make a commitment to invest in women. Women contribute to the
growth of economies and improve the quality of the lives of their
families, the health of their communities and their Nations. We have
won many battles for equality and justice for women worldwide, and we
can do it.
The passage of this resolution puts us, the United States House of
Representatives, firmly on the side of women who are seeking gender
equality across the world, and I urge its passage
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from California (Mrs. Capps).
Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding, and it
is such a pleasure to rise in strong support of H. Res. 149 and to
commend my colleague from Illinois, Jan Schakowsky, for bringing
attention through this resolution to International Women's Day, and to
thank my colleagues here in the House for their support of this
resolution.
As my friend from Illinois has pointed out, with today's passage of
this resolution, the Congressional Caucus for
[[Page H2180]]
Women's Issues is passing the first item on its must-pass agenda list
for the 110th Congress. What a fitting way that we begin this session
and acknowledge the importance of International Women's Day and the
significance of it in our country and around the world.
As we look around this world and we look here at home, we see that
women are reaching the highest levels of power in many parts of the
world and with our own country as well. They are being elected and
appointed into positions previously reserved only for men.
We see this in our communities, in business positions and education
and in civic life and we see it here in Congress. As has been noted, we
have for the first time in our 200-year history as a democracy we have
a woman Speaker of the House. We have in this 110th Congress the most
women who have every served in this House. The Senate can say the same
this year.
At the same time, today, women remain around the world and here in
this country more likely to live in poverty, lack education, be
victimized by violence than ever before.
It is my pleasure and privilege to serve on the House Democracy
Assistance Commission. In that capacity, I have visited several
emerging democracies and have met with parliamentarians of other
countries where these democracies are emerging. In each case, it is the
women Members who reach out to me on behalf of their sisters throughout
their country, and note with dismay that they have so many challenges
to meet the needs of the women that they serve.
I was especially touched when I visited the women of Afghanistan in
their 1-year-old democracy who have struggled over the years and are
still struggling and are so determined, despite the extreme oppression
by the Taliban, determined to take their role in the parliament. Both
threats on their lives and harassment and violence have marred that
passage. Determined to make a better life for themselves and their
children.
Let me call out a similar kind of situation, a grassroots networking
that I have seen and we have all experienced around this world today,
networking to provide microloans from woman to woman, as is one of the
nonprofit organizations called, giving women the opportunity to become
self-sufficient for themselves and their families. They look to us as
role models and as leaders, and yet we have our own challenges here.
So as we become that role model for so many democracies around the
world in so many emerging democracies, as we see that we have
challenges facing our women in this country, let us celebrate then
International Women's Day this Thursday making a firmer commitment to
improving the lives of women here in the United States and throughout
this world.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from California for
yielding to me and my good friend as well from Illinois for coming
forward with this bill.
To tell you the truth, I had often looked at bills which celebrate
groups in two ways, because I noticed that only insurgent groups have
such days named for them or groups most in need, and so they become
days of celebration. I have warmed to them only because I have
recognized why such groups have their own day, International Women's
Day for example.
It is because having such a day provides an opportunity for a call to
action. I wish I could come to the floor to celebrate women
internationally. It is hard for me to do that when I see the progress
in the global economy and look at what has happened and is happening
internationally to women who are still chattel in most places in the
world, who essentially would qualify as an oppressed group, not as a
group seeking equality. So I think we ought to use International
Women's Day to speak out for women who cannot speak for themselves.
What is to me perhaps most tragic is that the experience that most
women in this country welcome is one that women across the world,
particularly in developing countries, may dread, and that is the
experience of pregnancy. Where pregnancy cannot be controlled by a
woman, it is not the extraordinarily wonderful and welcome state that
it is in our country. There will never be equality for women until
women can control their own fertility.
{time} 1315
As long as women are subject to men, as long as they have no control
over their own fertility, then you will see women with as much HIV and
AIDS as men. Where saying ``no'' to a man isn't something you do as a
woman, but something you can't do as a woman, you are not equal.
So today I call attention to the world that our country has done very
little to help women across the world control their fertility and
understand what equality means. We would not have women marching for
equality and toward equality today if each and every woman who chose
was not able to control her fertility. May we help obtain the same for
our good sisters around the world.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I am proud today to join Congresswoman Jan
Schakow-sky--who continues to do a great job as a Chief Deputy Whip--in
recognizing the importance of International Women's Day on March 8.
Almost 100 years ago, a group of courageous women proposed creating
an International Women's Day to honor the women's rights movement and
to continue the fight for universal suffrage. This day has since
expanded in scope to serve as an opportunity to celebrate the
accomplishments of women, and recommit ourselves to ending
discrimination and violence against women across the globe.
Since the first commemoration of International Women's Day in 1910,
women have made significant advances. Women have been elected to the
highest levels of government across the world, and they serve as the
leaders of nations such as Chile, Liberia, and Germany. An estimated
10.4 million businesses in the United States are owned by women.
Worldwide, women receive eighty percent of all micro-loans to start
small businesses. In the United States, women are graduating from high
school and college at record rates.
However, while these accomplishments are indeed significant, we still
have far more work to do. In the United States and across the world,
women still face obstacles to political and economic equality. While
women work two-thirds of the world's working hours, they earn only one
percent of the world's income. Of the 1.3 billion people living in
poverty, 70 percent are women and children. Violence against women
continues at a horrific rate. These are unacceptable statistics, and we
must do everything we can to change them.
As we mark this year's International Women's Day, we must renew and
reaffirm our commitment to stopping violence against women and putting
an end to discriminatory practices so that all women have a real
opportunity to participate in society to the fullest.
By recognizing International Women's Day and all that it represents,
we give hope to women across the world. We honor the women who have
fought--and continue to fight--for their rights, and I am proud to
stand with them as we continue efforts to achieve equality and justice.
Again, I thank Congresswoman Schakow-sky for introducing this
important bill.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to
pay tribute to women by supporting the goals of International Women's
Day. As a woman, I recognize and honor all the women who have fought
and struggled for the equality of women.
Women from all parts of the world are divided by ethnic, linguistic,
cultural, economic and political differences. This day will allow for
the differences to be overshadowed by the similarities. This day will
enable them to look back to a tradition that represents decades of
struggle for equality, justice, peace, and development.
International Women's Day recognizes the importance of securing peace
and allowing social progress by identifying the rights of women to
equal opportunity and freedom. Women are being given the opportunity to
participate in the workforce and contribute to international peace and
security; this is an extraordinary advancement.
As Members of Congress, we need to reaffirm the commitment of ending
discrimination and violence against women and girls. We must continue
to encourage the President to affirm his commitment to pursue policies
to protect human rights and civil liberties.
Madam Speaker, the key fact remains: women themselves have the right
to live in dignity. Let us rededicate ourselves to making that a
reality by honoring International Women's Day. I urge my colleagues to
vote in support of International Women's Day.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the goals of
International
[[Page H2181]]
Women's Day. This is a day that not only recognizes the struggles women
and girls have faced and continue to face throughout the world, but
also celebrates their significant advancements and achievements.
Founded in the United States in the early 1900's, International
Women's Day has grown to be recognized throughout the world each year
on March 8th: from Australia, to Singapore, to Afghanistan, to Chile.
This year alone, there are 269 International Women's Day events
scheduled around the globe, with 44 occurring in the United States.
Since the inception of International Women's Day, women have made
considerable progress throughout the world. A vast majority of women
now have the right to vote. There currently are eleven women heads of
state and 27 women presiding over national assemblies across the
globe--including Nancy Pelosi, the first female Speaker of the U.S.
House.
Some of women's most notable legislative successes here at home
include: securing the right to vote in 1920; passage of the Equal Pay
Act in 1963; Title IX in 1972; and the Violence Against Women Act in
1994.
Despite these significant achievements, women in the United States
and throughout the world still face obstacles to full equality. Women
and girls are more likely to be illiterate, impoverished and a victim
of domestic violence. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State
estimates that every year, 800,000 to 900,000 people are victims of
trafficking--most of them are women and girls.
I stand here today--in solidarity with women and girls around the
globe--to bring attention to International Women's Day. It is important
to recognize and celebrate the obstacles women have surmounted on the
road to equality. Additionally, I hope to bring attention to the
inequalities that we still face, so that we can continue to break down
gender barriers in the hope that we can one day eradicate gender
inequality.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res, 149, a
resolution supporting International Women's Day on March 8, 2007. For
several decades the international community has reserved this day to
celebrate the achievements and contributions of women around the world.
International Women's Day is also a time to recognize and remember the
work we still have before us to achieve equal social and political
rights for women.
Today, women all over the world are becoming leaders in every
professional field imaginable. The achievements of women in politics
are especially noteworthy. As we celebrate Women's History Month in the
United States, it is my honor to recognize this important Day under the
historic leadership of the first woman Speaker of the House, my fellow
Californian, Nancy Pelosi.
The 110th Congress also marks the rise of six women to seven
committee chair positions, the most ever held by women in any prior
Congress:
Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald from California is chairing
the House Committee on Administration;
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter from New York is chairing the House
Rules Committee;
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez from New York is chairing the House
Committee on Small Business;
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones from Ohio is chairing the House
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct;
Senator Dianne Feinstein from California is chairing the Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration; and
Senator Barbara Boxer from California is chairing the Senate
Committee on the Environment and Public Works and is currently Acting
Chair for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.
These women all honor our Nation with their distinguished service and
leadership.
I also want to pay special tribute to my distinguished colleague
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen who has achieved the distinction of becoming
the first woman Ranking Member on this committee. We all benefit from
her contributions and those of all of the women Members who are
performing important responsibilities on the Committee of Foreign
Affairs with honor and distinction.
Despite notable political progress for women in leadership positions
in the U.S. and around the world, women continue to struggle for equal
social and political rights; access to health care, education and work;
and freedom from civil conflict, violence, human trafficking and
various cultural practices that put women's lives at risk.
The theme for this year's International Women's Day captures a
critical goal we all must share: ``ending impunity for violence against
women and girls.''
While manifestations of violence against women and girls vary across
social, economic, cultural and historical contexts, it is clear that
violence against women and girls remains a devastating reality in all
parts of the world. The global evidence is chilling. Violence against
women is a pervasive violation of human rights and a major impediment
to achieving gender equality, development and peace.
According to the United Nations:
Domestic violence is the largest form of abuse of women
worldwide, irrespective of region, culture, ethnicity,
education, class and religion. Violence against women is the
most common but least punished crime in the world.
The number of women forced or sold into prostitution is
estimated worldwide at anywhere between 700,000 and 4 million
per year. Profits from sex slavery are estimated at $7 to $l2
billion per year. The number of women trafficked into forced
labor put these numbers at even more astounding levels.
It is estimated that more than two million girls are
genitally mutilated per year.
Systematic rape continues to be used as a weapon of terror
in many of the world's recent conflicts--including Darfur,
Bosnia and Rwanda.
While international, regional and national legal and policy
frameworks have been established, to address violence against women and
girls, implementation of these laws and norms remains insufficient and
inconsistent around the world. Gender inequality, poverty and endless
cycles of violence are exacerbated as a result of failures to hold
perpetrators of violence against women and girls accountable for their
actions.
Eliminating violence against women remains one of the most serious
and urgent challenges of our time. Each one of us has a duty to support
and sustain a political and social environment where violence against
women and girls is not tolerated; where friends, family members,
neighbors, men and women, intervene to ensure these crimes and acts are
not committed with impunity.
I will do everything in my power as chairman to ensure that every
piece of legislation we consider in this Committee will improve the
security, opportunity and prosperity of women and I know my colleagues
will share this important goal.
I want to thank my colleague Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and the
other cosponsors of this resolution for giving us this opportunity to
recognize the importance of International Women's Day. I am proud to
support this resolution and I urge all my colleagues to do the same.
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a
cosponsor of House Resolution 149, in support of International Women's
Day. I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Schakowsky of Illinois, for
introducing this important resolution.
Women in every country around the world face an every-day battle for
their safety, and for equal rights, civil rights, and human rights.
Even here in this country, every day, women are victims of sexual
assault, abuse, and domestic violence.
Today, I stand with my colleagues in the House--with women in this
country, and with women around the world--to make a commitment to work
together to end discrimination and violence against women.
Yesterday, I returned from a trip where I led a Congressional
delegation of female members to visit Iraq. While. we were there, we
met with Iraqi women who told us that they are treated like second
class citizens.
This is unacceptable. Women in Iraq deserve the same basic human
rights and civil liberties as men. It is fitting that we should take
this occasion, on the day before March 8th--International Women's Day--
to restate this basic and essential message.
I urge my colleagues to unanimously support this resolution, a
message to women everywhere--that this House is committed to fight for
their civil rights, human rights, and their right to live each day
without fear of sexual abuse, assault, and domestic violence.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of
H. Res. 149, which supports the goals of International Women's Day
(IWD). International Women's Day is a day on which millions around the
world come together to commemorate their continued struggle for
equality, justice, peace, and development for all women around the
world.
International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of
recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries
alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually.
For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to
coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation
in social, political and economic processes.
Madam Speaker, 1975 was designated as `International Women's Year' by
the United Nations. Women's organizations and governments around the
world have also observed IWD annually on March 8 by holding large-scale
events that honor women's advancement and while diligently reminding of
the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's
equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
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There are over 3,000,000,000 women in the world, representing 51
percent of the world's population; we need to celebrate and emphasize
the important roles that women play around the world.
Throughout history women have faithfully and fervently forged a
strong fight to tear down the walls of discrimination, bridge the gap
between the haves and have-nots, and lay the foundation of a towering
edifice of equality and justice. Some of these strong soldiers for
justice include Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks. I am
extremely proud of the recent passage of H.R. 4510, a bill on which
Senator Hillary Clinton and I worked diligently together to pay tribute
to the enormous contributions Sojourner Truth made in the interests of
all women. H.R. 4510 directs the Joint Committee on the Library to
accept the donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and to display
the bust in a suitable location in the Capitol. On behalf of women in
this country, and all around the world, it was important to urge the
recognition and honor of abolitionist Sojourner Truth with the addition
of her likeness to the statue commemorating women's suffrage in the
United States Capitol.
Women continue to play the prominent role in caring for families
within the home as well as serving as economic earners. Women are
defined by their versatility. Women not only cook, clean, and care for
their children, but they also own and operate businesses, teach our
schoolchildren, drive buses, create art, practice medicine and law, and
legislate, as well as perform in many other capacities.
All over the world women play important roles in the world of
diplomacy and politics, contribute to the growth of economies, and
improve the quality of the lives of their families, communities, and
nations.
Madam Speaker, we recently celebrated the 2007 election of
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as the first female Speaker of the House, a
significant stride in the cause of promoting the advancement of women
as leaders and major players in politics. We also witnessed the recent
passage of H.R. 4510, a bill I proudly introduced which directed the
Joint Committee on the Library to accept the donation of a bust
depicting Sojourner Truth and to display the bust in a suitable
location in the Capitol. On behalf of women in this country, and all
around the world, it was important to urge the recognition and honor of
abolitionist Sojourner Truth with the addition of her likeness to the
statue commemorating women's suffrage in the United States Capitol. We
also witnessed the 2006 election of Michelle Bachelet as the first
female President of Chile; the 2006 election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
as the first female President in Africa's history; and the 2005
election of Angela Merkel as the first female Chancellor of Germany,
who will also serve as the second woman to chair a G8 summit beginning
in 2007.
Women account for 80 percent of the world's 70 million micro-
borrowers and 75 percent of the 28,000 United States loans supporting
small businesses in Afghanistan are made to women, and 11 women are
chief executive officers of Fortune 500 companies.
In the United States, women are graduating from high school at higher
rates and are earning bachelors degrees or higher degrees at greater
rates than men, with 88 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 29
having obtained a high school diploma and 31 percent of women between
the ages of 25 and 29 earning a bachelors degree or higher.
But in spite of tremendous gains, women still face political and
economic obstacles, struggle for basic rights, face the threat of
discrimination, and are targets of violence all over the world.
Worldwide women remain vastly underrepresented in national and local
assemblies, accounting on average for less than 10 percent of the seats
in parliament, except for in East Asia where the figure is
approximately 18 to 19 percent. In no developing region do women hold
more than 8 percent of the ministerial positions.
Women work two-thirds of the world's working hours and produce half
of the world's food, yet earn only 1 percent of the world's income and
own less than 1 percent of the world's property.
In the United States between 1995 and 2000, female managers earned
less than their male counterparts in the 10 industries that employ the
vast majority of all female employees. Of the 1,300,000,000 people
living in poverty around the world, 70 percent are women and children.
Madam Speaker, we need to continue to support programs that ensure
women and girls across the globe are empowered with an education so
that they reach their performance potentials and therefore function as
productive citizens of the world.
According to the United States Agency for International Development,
two-thirds of the 876,000,000 illiterate individuals worldwide are
women, two-thirds of the 125,000,000 school-aged children who are not
attending school worldwide are girls, and girls are less likely to
complete school than boys.
Women are particularly vulnerable to health problems and we must
continue to fight to ensure that every woman around the world has
access to adequate health care and health insurance.
Worldwide women account for half of all cases of HIV/AIDS,
approximately 42,000,000 cases, and in countries with a high prevalence
of HIV/AIDS, young women are at a higher risk than young men of
contracting HIV. Globally, each year over 500,000 women die during
childbirth and pregnancy.
We must also provide adequate protection and support systems that
empower women to avoid or discontinue the victimization of abusive
relationships. Domestic violence causes more deaths and disability
among women between ages 15 and 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic
accidents, and war. Worldwide, at least 1 out of every 3 women and
girls has been beaten in her lifetime.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least
1 out of every 6 women and girls in the United States has been sexually
abused in her lifetime.
Worldwide, 130,000,000 girls and young women have been subjected to
female genital mutilation and it is estimated that 10,000 girls are at
risk of being subjected to this practice in the United States.
According to the Congressional Research Service and the Department of
State, illegal trafficking in women and children for forced labor,
domestic servitude, or sexual exploitation involves between 1 million
and 2 million women and children each year, of whom 50,000 are
transported into the United States. Between 75 and 80 percent of the
world's 27,000,000 refugees are women and children.
In times and places of conflict and war, women and girls continue to
be the focus of extreme violence and intimidation and face tremendous
obstacles to legal recourse and justice.
Madam Speaker, March 8 has become known as International Women's Day
for the last century, and is a day on which people, often divided by
ethnicity, language, culture, and income, come together to celebrate a
common struggle for women's equality, justice, and peace. For these
reasons, the people of the United States have reason and should be
eager to participate in International Women's Day.
I strongly support H. Res. 149.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our
time.
Thank you, Ambassador Watson, and thank you to the gentlewoman from
Illinois for introducing this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 149.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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