[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING GERALDINE FERRARO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a former 
Member of Congress, a long time advocate of women's rights, the first 
female Vice Presidential candidate, and a great friend and American--
the Honorable Geraldine Anne Ferraro.
  In the rotunda of the Capitol sit the busts of Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott. They are so prominently 
displayed to pay tribute to their hard fight to establish equal rights 
for women. And, I know they would agree that Geraldine Ferraro was 
exactly the kind of woman they were fighting for.
  Geraldine proudly followed in the footsteps of these great women--
continuing the fight to ensure the rights of women and breaking down 
barriers and stereotypes along the way.
  Prior to running for election to the House of Representatives, 
Geraldine Ferraro worked as a teacher and then attorney in the Queens 
New York District Attorney's office, where she started the Special 
Victims Bureau. At a time when women prosecutors in the city were 
uncommon, Geraldine Ferraro was already breaking the proverbial glass 
ceiling.
  In 1978, Ambassador Ferraro ran for election to the House of 
Representatives for New York's 9th Congressional District in Queens, 
and won. Despite being a new Member of Congress, she made quite an 
impression on her colleagues, and quickly ascended to become the 
Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus from 1981 to 1985. During her 
years in Congress, she focused much of her legislative attention on 
equity for women in the areas of wages, pensions, and retirement plans. 
The recent passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck 
Fairness Act are homage to her tireless work on behalf of women.
  Her leadership, charisma, and dedication were evident to Presidential 
nominee, Walter Mondale, who selected Geraldine Ferraro to be his Vice-
Presidential candidate on July 12, 1984. She is the first women ever to 
be nominated as vice-presidential candidate by any major party.
  Following the path of women who came before her, Geraldine Ferraro 
has helped pave the way for our daughters to achieve anything they set 
their minds to. As the current Representative of her former district, I 
am proud to call Geraldine Ferraro a leader, a mentor, and most 
importantly a friend.

                          ____________________