[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15047-15048]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN TRIBUTE TO THE ELEVEN EXTRAORDINARY 2011 INDUCTEES TO THE NATIONAL 
                          WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2011

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the National Women's 
Hall of Fame and the eleven women who were formally inducted into the 
National Women's Hall of Fame on September 30 and October 1, 2011 in 
Seneca Falls, New York.
  Since 1969, the National Women's Hall of Fame has showcased great 
American women who have demonstrated an ability to inspire, lead and 
innovate. Fittingly, the Hall is located in Seneca Falls, the site of 
the 1848 Women's Rights Convention which adopted the Declaration of 
Sentiments demanding that women ``have immediate admission to all the 
rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United 
States.''
  Nearly 250 women have been honored by induction into the National 
Women's Hall of Fame. They come from many fields--they are educators, 
actors, writers, politicians, visionaries, philanthropists, athletes 
and scientists--but they share a talent for making a difference and 
inspiring us all. The eleven women who were inducted into the National 
Women's Hall of Fame this past weekend have truly made their mark on 
this country and on our history.
  St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955), a missionary who dedicated her life 
and fortunate to help native Americans and African Americans, is the 
second American-born person to be recognized as a saint. St. Katharine 
founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. During her lifetime, she 
and her order founded more than sixty missions and schools, including 
Xavier University in Louisiana.
  Dorothy Harrison Eustis (1886-1946) co-founded the nation's first dog 
guide school, The Seeing Eye. Born in Switzerland, Eustis started 
breeding German Shepherds for civic duty. Morris Frank, a blind 
American man, contacted her for help in acquiring a guide dog. She 
moved to America and, together with Frank, established The Seeing Eye, 
which has trained 15,000 dogs to assist nearly 6,000 individuals.
  Loretta C. Ford (1920-) is a international leader in nursing who is 
best known for co-founding the nurse practitioner model, which expanded 
nurse's scope of practice and allowed them to perform a broader range 
of duties.
  Abby Kelley Foster (1811-1887) was a major figure in the anti-slavery 
and women's rights movements. An organizer, lecturer and fundraiser, 
she worked tirelessly for the ratification of the 14th and 15th 
amendments and helped lay the groundwork for the 19th amendment 
granting women suffrage.
  Helen Murray Free (1923-) is a pioneering chemist who conducted 
research that revolutionized diagnostic testing in the laboratory and 
at home. Her work on dip-and-read strips has made it easier and cheaper 
to test for diabetes, pregnancy and other conditions.
  Billie Holiday (1915-1959) is one of the greatest jazz vocalists of 
all time. Her unique style continues to influence jazz and pop 
vocalists more than fifty years after her death.
  Coretta Scott King (1927-2006) was a celebrated champion of human and 
civil rights through non-violent means, in partnership with her 
husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and following his death.
  Lily Ledbetter (1938-) is best known for her fight to achieve pay 
equity. As she was retiring from her position as a manager with the 
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Ledbetter was advised anonymously 
that she had been paid considerably less than her male colleagues. She 
subsequently initiated a lawsuit against Goodyear. She won in trial 
court, but the Supreme Court later overturned the verdict because she 
had not filed within 180 days of the discriminatory act even though she 
was unaware of the discrimination at the time. Thanks in part to her 
advocacy, Congress reinstated the right to sue, and President Obama 
signed into law, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009.
  Barbara Mikulski (1936-) is the first female Democratic Senator 
elected in her own right. During her more than 30 years in the Senate, 
she has worked on legislation promoting equal health care for American 
women, Medicare reform, better care for veterans, greater student 
access to quality education and much more. This year she became the 
longest serving female Senator in U.S. history.
  Dr. Donna Shalala (1941-) is an educator, scholar and politician who 
was the longest serving Secretary of Health and Human Services (1993-
2001). She has been president of Hunter College which is located in my 
district, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is 
currently President of the University of Miami.
  Kathrine Switzer (1947-) broke the gender barrier in 1967 when she 
was the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon. She has 
completed over 37 marathons and has dedicated her career to creating 
Opportunities and equal sports status for women. In 1977, she founded 
the Avon International Running Circuit and in 1984 she was a leader in 
making the women's marathon an official event in the Olympic Games. She 
is an Emmy Award-winning sports commentator.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in rising to celebrate 
the National Women's Hall of Fame and its eleven remarkable 2011 
inductees.

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