[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4015-H4016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MARKING THE CENTENNIAL OF PASSAGE OF 19TH AMENDMENT IN THE U.S. HOUSE 
                           OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Trahan). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Rouda) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROUDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the 100th anniversary 
of this Chamber's passage of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the 
right to vote.
  The battle for the 19th Amendment was long and hard-fought. It was 72 
years from the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to the affirmation in 
our Constitution that women were owed the right to vote.
  But the ultimate goal was not just the vote. It was what the vote 
means: that American women, all women, could enjoy the same rights and 
freedoms as American men.
  In the last 100 years, we remain well short of that goal. In fact, 
this past week's latest assault on women's bodily autonomy is proof of 
that. The fact that women make 80 cents on the dollar compared to men, 
and much less for women of color, shows that we have a long way to go.
  When there is so much work left to do to realize full equality for 
all American citizens, we cannot afford to move backward.

[[Page H4016]]

  It is clear we need women's voices now more than ever. I am very 
proud of the fact that 40 percent of the Democrats in Congress are 
women, but we need more.
  I am proud to serve with the largest group of women in Congress in 
U.S. history and to call these incredible Congresswomen my friends, 
colleagues, and Speaker of the House. I look forward to working with 
them toward full gender equality.
  We will not wait another 100 years.

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