[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 100th 
anniversary of the League of Women Voters of the United States. With a 
commitment to civic participation, the League has secured its place 
nationally as a relied-upon source of voter education and a protector 
of voting rights. The centennial celebration is a historical benchmark 
for the State of Michigan, as well as the entire Nation.
  Just 6 months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the 
suffragists of the National American Woman Suffrage Association as well 
as other suffrage groups embarked on a mission to ensure that voters, 
particularly women, would have the necessary nonpartisan information to 
make informed decisions on who and what to support in elections. With 
this newfound mission, the suffrage movement began a ``mighty political 
experiment'' designed to help 20 million women carry out their new 
civic duty.
  With Michigan women winning the right to vote in 1918, the mission to 
educate Michigan women voters started before the League was established 
nationally when the Michigan League of Women Voters formed out of the 
Michigan Equal Suffrage Association in 1919. The following year, they 
became part of the League of Women Voters of the United States. The 
early Michigan LWV advocated for changes to State-level voter 
registration laws and civil service reform; they also established 
citizenship classes through citizenship schools in people's homes. Many 
of their actions influenced early programs of the National League, and 
the intent of those programs continue today through the League's work.
  While the League is nonpartisan, even from their conception, the 
League used their voice and their platform for advocacy. One of their 
earliest initiatives was for child welfare reform, as well as civil 
service and election law reforms across the country. In 1941, the 
League advocated successfully for amending Michigan State law to forbid 
factory work by those under 16 and to mandate school attendance by all 
children between the ages of 7 and 16. Other major legislation the 
League advocated for includes the Equal Rights Amendment, National 
Voter Registration Act, and the Help America Vote Act.
  Today, Leagues from across the country advocate for issues such as 
fighting voter suppression, limiting the influence of money in 
politics, and redistricting. They are constantly encouraging and 
pushing for further investment in our election infrastructure and 
election security. With a presence in over 700 communities and across 
all 50 States, the League of Women Voters of the United States has 
become an activist, grassroots organization which plays a critical role 
in our democracy.
  It is my great pleasure to congratulate the League of Women Voters of 
the United States on the lasting impact it has made throughout our 
Nation's history and for the work it continues to do. As the League of 
Women Voters of the United States celebrates this centennial milestone, 
I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating its members and 
extending best wishes for continued success in the years ahead.

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