[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1653-S1654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 123--DESIGNATING MARCH 2021 AS ``NATIONAL WOMEN'S 
                            HISTORY MONTH''

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Merkley, 
Mr. Durbin, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Markey, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Warren, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
Cardin, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
Warner, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Ernst, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. Shaheen, 
Ms. Rosen, Mr. Booker, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. King, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
Heinrich, Ms. Sinema, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mrs. 
Fischer, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Carper, and Mrs. Blackburn) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 123

       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 their homes, in their workplaces, in schools, in 
     the courts, or during 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 
     opportunities 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--
       (1) the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States, which provides, ``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 enactment of 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 be leaders in the 
     forefront of social change efforts, business, science, 
     government, math, art, literature, music, film, athletics, 
     and other fields;
       Whereas women now represent approximately half of the 
     workforce of the United States;
       Whereas women once were routinely barred from attending 
     medical schools in the United States, but now are enrolling 
     in medical schools in 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, since the American Revolution, women have been 
     vital to the mission of the Armed Forces, with more than 
     200,000 women serving on active duty and 2,000,000 women 
     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 2021, a record total of 144 women are serving 
     in Congress, including 120 women in the House of 
     Representatives and 24 women in the Senate;
       Whereas President Jimmy Carter recognized 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, in 1987, President Ronald Reagan issued a 
     Presidential proclamation proclaiming March 1987 as ``Women's 
     History Month'';
       Whereas, in 2020, Congress passed the Smithsonian American 
     Women's History Museum Act (title I of division T of Public 
     Law 116-260) to establish a national women's history museum 
     on or near the National Mall in Washington, DC; 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 2021 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 extraordinary achievements of past 
generations of women, and to pay tribute to the vital role they have 
played in the political, economic, and social development of this 
nation.
  Women's History Month provides a special opportunity to reflect upon 
women's countless accomplishments that touch all aspects of our 
society--from government, to business, the arts and sciences, the 
military and much more. I look upon the courage our predecessors 
displayed with great admiration, and I continue to be inspired by those 
who blazed the trail for women like me.
  In December of this past year, I was incredibly proud to see the 
Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act, which I co-led with Senator 
Susan Collins, enacted into law. This law will create a long overdue, 
permanent museum to collect, study, and create programs that celebrate 
women's experiences and contributions.
  However, the last year also brought with it the loss of a number of 
pioneering women, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, NASA 
mathematician Katherine Johnson, and the brave Civil Rights Movement 
champion Lucille Bridges. Though these icons are no longer with us, 
their contributions will live on and their accomplishments have 
shattered glass ceilings for future generations of women. May we honor 
their work and memory with a commitment to elevate and support future 
women leaders.
  This past election year marked a new high water mark for women in 
politics, as more women ran for and were elected to office in 2020 than 
ever before. Of the many notable wins, I was overjoyed to see my friend 
and former Senate colleague, Vice President Kamala Harris, elected to 
the nation's second-highest office. The election of more women to 
places of power is crucial for our continued progress.
  I am eager to work with Vice President Harris and the 144 women 
serving in Congress in 2021 to address the challenges before us.
  One of our first priorities must be to address the ongoing pandemic, 
which

[[Page S1654]]

has had devastating consequences for the health of our country and 
economy. The pandemic has also uniquely harmed women and girls--
especially women of color. A disproportionate number of women have lost 
their jobs as a result of the pandemic, and are often unable to 
maintain work commitments with children learning from home while 
schools are closed. As far as we have come, this unequal harm borne by 
women during the pandemic reminds us of the work toward equality that 
is yet to be done. We must continue our work to ensure fairness and 
equity for women everywhere.
  As we undertake to celebrate Women's History Month, I ask my 
colleagues to celebrate with me how far we have come and to continue 
the fight for the progress of all women--especially those who are 
struggling during these trying times.
  Thank you Mr. President and I yield the floor.

                          ____________________