[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 50 (Thursday, March 22, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1954-S1955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 448--DESIGNATING MARCH 2018 AS ``NATIONAL WOMEN'S
HISTORY MONTH''
Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Murkowski, Ms.
Collins, Mr. Carper, Ms. Warren, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Reed, Ms. Baldwin,
Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Brown, Mr. King, Mr. Coons, Ms. Hirono,
Mrs. Ernst, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Markey, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Duckworth, Mr.
Booker, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Harris, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms.
Smith, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following resolution; which was
considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 448
Whereas National Women's History Month recognizes and
spreads awareness of the importance of women in the history
of the United States;
Whereas throughout the history of the United States,
whether in the home, their workplace, school, the courts, or
in wartime, women have fought for themselves, their families,
and all people of the United States;
Whereas, even from the early days of the history of the
United States, Abigail Adams urged her husband to ``Remember
the ladies'' when representatives met for the Continental
Congress in 1776;
Whereas women were particularly important in the
establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and
cultural institutions in the United States;
Whereas women led the efforts to secure suffrage and equal
opportunity for women, and also served in the abolitionist
movement, the emancipation movement, labor movements, civil
rights movements, and other causes to create a more fair and
just society for all;
Whereas suffragists wrote, marched, were arrested, and
ultimately succeeded in achieving the enactment of the 19th
Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, section 1
of which provides that ``The right of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any state on account of sex'', as well as the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.), which
extended the protection of the right to vote to women of
color and language minorities;
Whereas women have been and continue to step up as leaders
in the forefront of social change efforts, business, science,
government, math, art, literature, music, film, athletics,
and more;
Whereas women now represent approximately half of the
workforce of the United States;
Whereas women once were routinely barred from attending
medical schools of the United States, but now are enrolling
in medical schools of the United States at higher numbers
than men;
Whereas women previously were turned away from law school,
but now represent approximately half of law students in the
United States;
Whereas women have been vital to the mission of the Armed
Forces since the American Revolution, serving in volunteer
and enlisted positions, with more than 200,000 active-duty
servicewomen and 2,000,000 veterans representing every branch
of service;
Whereas more than 10,000,000 women own businesses in the
United States;
Whereas Jeannette Rankin of Montana was the first woman
elected to the House of Representatives in 1916 and Hattie
Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas was the first woman elected to the
United States Senate in 1932;
Whereas Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was the first woman
to serve in both houses of Congress;
Whereas, in the 115th Congress, a record 22 women serve as
United States Senators, and 89 women serve in the House of
Representatives;
Whereas President Jimmy Carter issued the first
Presidential Proclamation designating March 2 through 8,
1980, as ``National Women's History Week'';
Whereas, in 1987, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced
the first joint resolution to pass Congress designating
``Women's History Month'';
Whereas President Ronald Reagan issued the first ``Women's
History Month'' Presidential Proclamation in 1987; and
Whereas, despite the advancements of women in the United
States, much remains to be done to ensure that women realize
their full potential as equal members of society in the
United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates March 2018 as ``National Women's History
Month'';
(2) recognizes the celebration of ``National Women's
History Month'' as a time to reflect on the many notable
contributions that women have made to the United States;
(3) urges the people of the United States to observe
``National Women's History Month'' with appropriate programs
and activities.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of Women's
History Month to reflect on the remarkable contributions women have
made to the United States and the challenges we must still face today
to ensure women are able to realize their full potential as equal
partners in American society.
For over 30 years, we have set aside this month to pay tribute to the
amazing women who have fought tirelessly for themselves, their
families, and all Americans.
I look back on their courage with great admiration and continue to be
inspired by those who blazed the trail for women like me. When I first
came to Washington in 1992, they called it the ``Year of the Woman,''
with four women being elected to the Senate. Today, we have a record 22
women serving in the United States Senate and 89 women serving in the
House of Representatives.
Even at record levels, women only account for about 20 percent of the
115th Congress, which falls far short of the 51 percent of our nation's
population that are women.
Still, women have proven themselves as true political forces and I
have great hope for the next generations of women who will also lead
the way in building a better California and United States.
Women have been and continue to step up as leaders in the forefront
of social change efforts, business, science, government, math, art,
literature, music, film, athletics, and more.
Today, half of our workforce is made up of women and more than 10
million American businesses are women owned.
Where women were once turned away from attending medical and law
schools, enrollment numbers are now almost evenly split between men and
women.
Women have risen to the top of Fortune 500 companies and fill the
domes of capitols and the halls of universities.
Women now also have a larger role in the U.S. Armed Forces, with more
than 200,000 active-duty servicewomen proudly serving and 2 million
veterans representing every branch of service.
[[Page S1955]]
My utmost respect goes out to these women warriors who selflessly
answered the call to duty and served with honor, courage, and
distinction.
As a United States Senator proudly representing California, I have
seen first-hand some of the millions of outstanding women who achieve
greatness.
As we celebrate the stories of American women who defied all odds to
accomplish the unprecedented, we must also honor their legacies by
continuing to defend the rights they worked so hard to achieve.
We have fought together on so many issues that affect women,
families, and all Americans. During this month, I invite all women to
pledge to continue this fight together and never relent on these
important issues.
Thank you Mr. President and I yield the floor.
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