[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16396]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         157TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC SENECA FALLS CONVENTION

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I also speak today in tribute to the 157th 
anniversary of the historic Seneca Falls convention, which paved the 
way for women's equality in the political world. Without the principles 
set forward by those courageous women and men at that convention, 
neither I nor the other 68 Members of the House currently here would 
ever have dreamed of being where we are today.
  American women everywhere would never have dreamed of being able to 
contribute what they have over the last century and a half. They have 
excelled as leaders of political movements and pioneers of important 
policies.
  The women at Seneca Falls set forth an agenda that would guide the 
women's rights movement for centuries. Their efforts paved the way for 
the ratification of the 19th amendment, without which women could not 
cast votes on issues that directly affect them.
  Despite strong opposition, they knew then that extending equal rights 
to women would lead to a more successful society. And 157 years later, 
we know they were right, and we continue their dream of a United States 
with full and active participation of all women in politics.

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