[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3619-3620]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, today the first female chief executive from 
Africa

[[Page 3620]]

addressed a joint session of Congress. In order to commemorate this 
historic event, I rise to recognize Women's History Month. March is a 
time to celebrate the women who have played a pivotal role in America's 
history. Women have always played a crucial role in building the great 
history of this country, and the women of my home State, Nevada, are no 
different.
  One who comes to mind is Sarah Winnemucca, an influential native 
woman whom we honored last year by making her the second of Nevada's 
statues in Congress. Born to a Paiute chief's family around 1844, Sarah 
was unusually driven to bridge the gulf between Native Americans and 
Caucasian settlers. Dedicated to helping her people, Sarah used her 
talents as an English translator, public speaker, negotiator, and 
educator.
  Women's History Month is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the 
accomplishments and contributions of famous women like Sarah, but there 
are many untold stories of women just like her whose names we don't 
know and whose lives have made America a place of strength, freedom, 
and hope. Their stories are echoed in the contributions that women 
across the country make every day, whether at home, in the community, 
in the workplace, or on the battlefield. More than just to paying them 
tribute, I am committed to honoring them by fighting for a more just, 
prosperous, and worthy nation.
  For the women colleagues, business leaders, and entrepreneurs who 
make our economy run, America can do better to ensure fair pay and 
expand economic opportunity. They give their best, but even in 2006, 
women who work full time year round still earn only 76 cents for every 
$1 their male counterparts earn. I pledge that we will continue 
fighting to end this unfair pay gap, to increase the minimum wage, and 
to create more opportunities for all our families.
  Finally, I salute the more than 200,000 women who are serving in 
active duty in the military, helping to defend and protect our Nation. 
I pledge to them that Democrats will continue fighting to provide our 
troops and their families, Active Duty and Reserve, with all the 
resources they need to protect our freedom. And when they return home, 
we will ensure that all veterans have access to the health care they 
need and never have to choose between retirement and a disability 
check.
  At the end of the day, these brave women are protecting America, 
including community, integrity, freedom, and justice, for everyone. 
These principles represent not just the foundation of our great Nation 
but also the same values that bind us as Americans. This month, let us 
recognize the women all across this country--the mothers, the 
daughters, the coworkers, and the soldiers--who make these cherished 
ideals an intrinsic and enduring part of the American dream.

                          ____________________