[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.
____________________