[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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