[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17159-17161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO COMMEMORATION OF WOMEN 
                              SUFFRAGISTS

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint 
resolution (H.J. Res. 59) expressing the sense of Congress with respect 
to the establishment of an appropriate day for the commemoration of the 
women suffragists who fought for and won the right of women to vote in 
the United States, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 59

       Whereas one of the first public appeals for women's 
     suffrage came in 1848 when Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady 
     Stanton called a women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, 
     New York, on July 19, 1848;
       Whereas Sojourner Truth gave her famous speech titled 
     ``Ain't I a Woman?'' at the 1851 Women's Rights Convention in 
     Akron, Ohio;
       Whereas in 1869, suffragists formed two national 
     organizations to work for the right to vote: the National 
     Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage 
     Association;
       Whereas these two organizations united in 1890 to form the 
     National American Woman Suffrage Association;
       Whereas in 1872, Susan B. Anthony and a group of women 
     voted in the presidential election in Rochester, New York;
       Whereas she was arrested and fined for voting illegally;
       Whereas at her trial, which attracted nationwide attention, 
     she made a speech that ended with the slogan ``Resistance to 
     Tyranny Is Obedience to God'';
       Whereas on January 25, 1887, the United States Senate voted 
     on women's suffrage for the first time;
       Whereas during the early 1900s, a new generation of leaders 
     joined the women's suffrage movement, including Carrie 
     Chapman Catt, Maud Wood Park, Lucy Burns, Alice Paul, and 
     Harriot E. Blatch;
       Whereas women's suffrage leaders devoted most of their 
     efforts to marches, picketing, and other active forms of 
     protest;
       Whereas Alice Paul and others chained themselves to the 
     White House fence;
       Whereas the suffragists were often arrested and sent to 
     jail, where many of them went on hunger strikes;
       Whereas almost 5,000 people paraded for women's suffrage up 
     Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC; and
       Whereas on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the 
     United States Constitution granted women in the United States 
     the right to vote: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That it is 
     the sense of Congress that women suffragists should be 
     revered and celebrated for working to ensure the right of 
     women to vote in the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise 
in support of House Joint Resolution 59. This legislation, introduced 
by the distinguished gentlewoman from Las Vegas, Nevada (Ms. Berkley) 
recognizes women's suffrage as a great milestone in our Nation's 
history.
  The resolution specifically intends to commemorate the struggle waged 
by suffragists such as Sojourner Truth, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony as a culmination in women's earning the 
right to vote. Many people reviled social reformers like these women 
leaders in the mid-19th Century. Today, however, they rightfully 
celebrate the fight to end this injustice.
  I appreciate the gentlewoman from Nevada's work in further 
recognizing the legacy of the American civil rights movement.
  From the women's rights meeting called by Mott and Stanton in Seneca 
Falls, New York in 1848 until the ratification of the 19th amendment in 
1920, the determination of these women was as strong and has endured as 
any in our history. To earn the right to vote, these women chained 
themselves to the White House gates. They went on hunger strikes. They 
participated in marches and often were arrested and jailed for their 
disobedient action.
  Despite the difficult obstacles and resistance they faced, 
suffragists remained committed to giving women the equal voice in 
American politics. Their victory was finally secured when Secretary of 
State Colby certified the ratification of the 19th amendment to the 
United States Constitution on August 26, 1920. The joint resolution 
under consideration marks the 19th amendment's upcoming 85th 
anniversary on August 26.
  The 19th amendment reads: ``The rights 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.'' This single, timeless sentence 
ensured that our democracy would never again restrict women from voting 
for their leaders.
  Mr. Speaker, the story of the women suffragists included many 
excruciating chapters, but its tumultuous activities and its conclusion 
is a credit to democracy and the ability to adapt and improve.
  For all these reasons, I strongly urge my colleagues to support the 
adoption of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague in consideration 
of H.J. Res 59, expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the 
establishment of an appropriate day for the commemoration of the women 
suffragists who fought for and won the right of women to vote in the 
United States.
  Mr. Speaker, the women's rights movement began in the mid-1800s when 
women such as Sarah Grimke, Angelina Grimke, Lucy Stone, Abby Kelly, 
Lucretia Mott, and Sojourner Truth found it necessary to speak out for 
women's rights because they were not allowed to participate equally 
with men in anti-slavery and temperance reform movements.
  The right to vote was not their original focus. A convention held in 
Seneca Falls, New York in 1848 changed that. It was at that historic 
event that the women's suffrage movement formally began.

                              {time}  1415

  The movement culminated with the passage of the 19th amendment to the 
Constitution in 1920.
  Suffragists employed a variety of arguments to press their case. Some 
argued from the basis of natural law, arguing equality for all. Some 
argued on the grounds that women were compelled to pay taxes on the 
property they owned and, therefore, should not be subject to the 
injustice of taxation without representation.
  Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott were 
among the most well-known suffragettes who pushed for a constitutional

[[Page 17160]]

amendment. These women emerged as the leaders of the movement and 
helped to secure the right to vote for all women in America.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleagues, and specifically the 
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), for bringing this bill to the 
Floor today. We should never forget how our country has emerged to 
being a representative democracy, knowing full well that we have not 
totally achieved everything that we wants to achieve, but we are 
continuing to try and form a more perfect Union.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I 
urge adoption of House Joint Resolution 59.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor all the women, 
particularly the African-American women who participated in the 
suffrage movement, in the 19th and 20th centuries.
  The historic women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, NY, in 1848 
first brought the issue of women's suffrage to the forefront of the 
women's rights movement. This conference ignited passion for women 
nationwide to pursue a right they have previously been denied for far 
too long.
  A second convention held in Akron, OH, in 1851, not far from my 
district in Cleveland, was equally historic for the powerful speech 
given by Sojourner Truth, entitled ``Ain't I a woman?'' Her rousing 
oratory and trying personal experiences provided a unique perspective 
to both women's rights as well as the institution of slavery.
  Another historic female figure, Harriet Tubman, spoke of her desire 
for women's rights while she was a slave runaway. Ms. Tubman, as many 
other African-American women, correctly recognized the hypocrisy in the 
patronage of women even after the abolition of slavery. The shackles of 
subservience still weighed down on African-American women at that time.
  Although the 19th amendment, which extended voting rights to include 
women, was not passed until 1920 the indispensable contributions from 
African-American women helped usher in the long overdue law. With the 
passage of this amendment came a big step toward the gradual 
deterioration of a system of patronage that has made the battle for 
gender equality an uphill climb.
  It gives me great pride to rise with the my fellow congressional 
colleagues to honor the women who fought tirelessly for this amendment.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 59 
introduced by my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, 
and I commend her for introducing this bill.
  The battle for suffrage began in earnest in 1848, when Lucretia Mott 
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized a convention in Seneca Falls, NY, 
to advance women's rights. Their struggle continued for 72 years, until 
August 18, 1920, when ratification of the 19th amendment to the United 
States Constitution finally gave women the right to vote.
  Like other civil rights campaigns, the fight for suffrage required 
strong and principled individuals who risked health, wealth, and 
societal denigration. Susan B. Anthony and her fellow activists were 
fearless in their efforts to win the right to vote in the 19th century. 
Their courage inspired a new generation of suffragists, including 
Carrie Chapment Catt, Maud Wood Park, Lucy Burns, and Alice Paul, and 
Harriott E. Blatch, who would not allow themselves to be silenced 
despite harassment and arrest. Their efforts resonated nationwide, and 
in 1920 they achieved their goal: political equality for women.
  We must not forget their struggle or undervalue their achievement. 
The 19th amendment makes for a more equitable society and for a more 
truly representative government. In fact, the number of women serving 
in national, State and local elected office has steadily increased. The 
109th Congress has 83 female Members, including House Democratic Leader 
Nancy Pelosi. Leader Pelosi is a role model for all those aspiring to 
public service, and I am hopeful and confident that in my lifetime 
there will be full parity between men and women in this legislative 
institution.
  Commemorating these brave suffragists reminds us of the hard fight 
for gender equality and the ongoing struggle today. Women continue to 
face discrimination in the workplace, where women make less money and 
are promoted less frequently. In government, women, despite great 
gains, are underrepresented in every branch and at every level.
  By passing this resolution, the House not only honors the women who 
won passage of the 19th amendment, but it also sends a clear message 
that we are committed to eliminating the inequalities that women face 
today. I urge my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 59.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. 
Res. 59, a resolution commemorating the women suffragists who fought, 
and won the right for women to vote in the United States.
  This legislation applauds women's rights activists whose commitment 
to changing an unjust system led to the eventual passage of the 19th 
Amendment in 1920. As we all know, the 19th Amendment granted women in 
the United States the right to vote.
  The women's suffrage movement began in the mid nineteenth century 
when Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton held the first women's 
rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, on July 19, 1848. 
Established in 1869, the National American Woman Suffrage Association 
fought tirelessly against discrimination and oppression, often times 
receiving severe punishment in response to their protests.
  After only several decades, due to the progress of women's rights 
activists, women in the U.S. experienced advancement in property 
rights, employment and educational opportunities, divorce and child 
custody laws, and increased social freedoms. As new generations of 
women continued to bolster the strength of the movement, they initiated 
a social revolution that would touch every aspect of life.
  The time has come for Congress to recognize these brave individuals 
who struggled for equality in the face of adversity, and ultimately 
amended our constitution to allow for equality among both genders. The 
suffragists' accomplishments are a credit to American democracy. Their 
unfettered commitment to equality for women should serve as an example 
to nations in which this struggle is still being fought today.
  Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by again expressing my support for this 
legislation and encourage my colleagues' support. It should be a 
precedence of this Congress to acknowledge the significance of the 
women's rights movement and honor its leaders with a day of 
commemoration.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 59, 
to Establish Women's Suffrage Commemoration Day.
  With this Commemoration Day, we pay tribute to our foremothers, who 
worked tirelessly for generations to gain the right to vote.
  We acknowledge that the journey to equality is long and difficult, 
but it is well worth the fight.
  And we pledge to keep the struggle for women's rights alive.
  The journey towards women's rights in America is as old as our 
country itself. While John Adams drafted the Constitution at the 
Continental Congress, his wife counseled, ``Remember the ladies,'' but 
the Constitution made no mention of women's rights.
  So our foremothers fought on.
  Elizabeth Cady Stanton declared that all men and women are created 
equal.
  Susan B. Anthony was arrested for casting a ballot and refused to pay 
the bail.
  Between 1917 and 1919, over a thousand women held a vigil outside of 
the White House, asking, ``How long must women wait for liberty?''
  Finally, in 1920, with the 19th Amendment, women won the right to 
participate in our democratic process.
  As we remember the long and arduous battle for women's suffrage, let 
us also remember the right not yet won. 157 years ago, Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton called for equal rights for all Americans. It is time for our 
Constitution to echo that sentiment. There is no better tribute to our 
brave foremothers than to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.
  Only the ERA can prevent women's rights from being rolled back. 
Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Austria, and Portugal are 
just a handful of the countries that already guarantee non-
discrimination based on sex in their constitutions. It is time we join 
their ranks.
  Alice Paul used to say, ``When you put your hand to the plow, you 
can't put it down until you get to the end of the row.''
  For Alice and Elizabeth, for Sojourner and Lucretia, for our 
foremothers, our grandmothers and our daughters, let us put our hands 
to the plow and pass the ERA.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate women 
suffragists. As one of the eighty-three women serving in the House and 
Senate, the Women's Rights Movement was, and continues to be, in my 
opinion, one of the most inspirational series of events to occur in 
United States history.
  The battle for suffrage, fought by the early women's rights leaders 
was thought to be the

[[Page 17161]]

most effective way to change an unjust system. Constant barriers were 
thrown ahead of them, and degrading stereotypes were placed upon them.
  Challengers of women's suffrage claim that women were less 
intelligent and less able to make political decisions than men. The 
women of the suffrage movement dismissed these accusations with the 
ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. 
Now, women utilize this freedom more so than men. Among citizens, 
women's voting rates have surpassed men's ever since the 1984 
presidential election. 54 percent of the 2004 presidential election 
votes belonged to women and 46 percent of the votes to men.
  Women like Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Caddy, Sojourner Truth, and Susan 
B. Anthony were the pioneers of the suffrage movement. They took risks 
and broke laws in order to pave the way for the new generation of 
suffrage leaders like Carrie Chapman Catt, Maud Wood Park, Lucy Burns, 
Alice Paul, and Harriot E. Blatch. All of these women devoted their 
lives to this cause. That is why it is so important that we devote a 
day to honor these women.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 
59, expressing the support of Congress for the establishment of a day 
to honor the women suffragists who fought for and won voting rights for 
women in the United States.
  On July 19, 1848, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton convened 
the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. From 
that time onward the leaders of the women's suffrage movement exhibited 
boundless courage and perseverance in their quest for equal 
representation.
  Their journey was neither quick nor painless, and leading suffragists 
experienced public scorn and official persecution during nearly a 
century of campaigning. The women's rights movement relied on different 
methods of protest ranging from picketing and marches to hunger 
strikes. One suffragist, Alice Paul, led a famous protest in which she 
and several other women chained themselves to the White House fence.
  These and similar acts of civil disobedience often landed the 
suffragists in jail. In 1872, when Susan B. Anthony and a group of 
women voted in the presidential election in Rochester, New York, she 
was arrested and fined. However, no amount threats or abuse could deter 
her or the other suffragists. At the close of her trial and with the 
whole nation watching, Susan B. Anthony made a fiery speech, stating 
``Resistance to Tyranny Is Obedience to God.''
  Even in the face of persecution, this unrelenting commitment to 
justice, democracy, and the ideals set forth in the Constitution of the 
United States ultimately won the day. On August 26, 1920, the 19th 
Amendment to the United States Constitution granted women in the United 
States the right to vote.
  The women who led the fight for equal voting rights for women deserve 
our recognition not only for their tireless pursuit of justice in the 
face of persecution, but also for their tremendous contribution to the 
creation of a more perfect Union.
  The success of the suffragists proved that even a prejudice rooted in 
centuries of custom and reinforced by all of the laws of the day cannot 
stand indefinitely against reasoned appeals to the ideals upon which 
our great nation was founded.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in support of 
setting a day to commemorate the contributions of these courageous 
Americans.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 59, which 
honors and commemorates the contributions of women suffragists who 
fought for and won the right of women to vote in the United States.
  The women's suffrage movement began with women speaking out for 
women's rights when their efforts to participate equally with men in 
the great reform movements of the mid-1800s--including antislavery and 
temperance--were rebuffed. These early feminists demanded a wide range 
of changes in women's social, moral, legal, educational, and economic 
status.
  Although women in this country now have the right to vote, we must 
look back at the efforts of these pioneers and apply their passion to 
the continued fight for women's equality today.
  Since 1920, when the Nineteenth Amendment finally granted women the 
right to vote, women have made great strides. Women have voted at a 
slightly higher rate than men in every Presidential election since 
1964. What is even more encouraging is that more and more women are 
seeking elected office. For 20 years after Jeanette Rankin of Montana 
was elected to Congress in November 1916, the number of women in 
Federal office following each election never exceeded 9. I am proud to 
say that that number has dramatically increased since then. In 1980, 
women comprised 4 percent of the Congress. In 1990, 6 percent. 
Currently, in the 109th Congress, there are 83 women serving--69 in the 
House of Representatives and 14 in the Senate--over 15 percent of the 
Congress.
  We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. So 
today, as we honor the women who fought for the rights so many of us 
today enjoy, we recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for equality 
for women and all who are oppressed in this country and around the 
world.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kolbe). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 59, as 
amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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