[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2056-S2057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 125--DESIGNATING MARCH 2019 AS ``NATIONAL WOMEN'S
HISTORY MONTH''
Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Menendez, Ms.
Collins, Mr. Brown, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Coons, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal,
Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Harris, Mr. Carper, Mr. Jones, Mr. Reed, Mr. Van
Hollen, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Udall, Ms. Warren, Ms. Smith,
Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Peters, Mr.
Kaine, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Rosen,
Mr. King, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Casey, Mr. Wyden, and Ms. McSally) submitted
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 125
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--
(1) the 19th Amendment to 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''; and
(2) 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, in 2019, the United States celebrates the 100th
anniversary of Congress proposing the 19th Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, which guarantees women the
constitutional right to vote;
Whereas women have been and continue to be 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 a record number of women were elected to public
office in the 2018 midterm elections;
Whereas, in the 116th Congress, a record 25 women serve as
United States Senators, and 102 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 2019 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; and
(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 recognize the tremendous achievements women have made
for the United States and pay tribute to their tireless efforts to
fight for themselves, their families, and all Americans.
We have set aside this month for over 30 years to give us the
opportunity to not only reflect on the past and observe the many
accomplishments of American women, but to also inspire the next
generation of women leaders. I look upon the great courage our
foremothers have displayed with great admiration and continue to
personally 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.'' Only two other women were serving in the Senate, and four
women had just been elected to the chamber, myself included. Today, a
quarter of the Senate is represented by women and a record 102 women
serve in the House of Representatives, including the first woman
speaker. I am proud of the progress we've made and hopeful we will
continue to build on that momentum toward full equality..
Even at record levels, though, the number of women in Congress falls
far short of the 51 percent of our Nation's population that are women.
I have great hope in the next generations of women to rise up and help
lead the way in building a better California and United States.
As in government, women have been and continue to be leaders in major
social change efforts in our Nation. The business world has been
transformed by powerful women at the table, as have science, music,
film, athletics, literature, and much more. Today, there are more than
10 million women owned American businesses and half of our workforce is
made up of women.
Enrollment numbers at medical and law schools are now almost evenly
split between men and women. Our women warriors serve in critical roles
in the U.S. Armed Forces, with more than 200,000 active-duty
servicewomen proudly serving and a growing number of women veterans
representing every branch of service.
Women who have selflessly answered the call to duty have served their
Nation with honor, courage, and distinction. I have the utmost respect
for the dignity and valor they exhibit and they are commended.
As a United States Senator proudly representing California, I ask you
to join me in celebrating the stories and greatness of American women
who accomplished the unprecedented and honor their legacies by
continuing to defend the rights they worked so hard to achieve. Thank
you Mr. President and I yield the floor.
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