[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4848]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING ROXCY O'NEAL BOLTON ON BEING RECOGNIZED AS A WOMEN OF 
               CHARACTER, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT HONOREE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Roxcy O'Neal 
Bolton, a pioneer and champion for the rights of women and an honored 
constituent in my south Florida congressional district. Yet Roxcy is 
truly larger than life and belongs to our entire State as well as our 
Nation.
  This week she will be recognized as a Women of Character, Courage and 
Commitment Honoree by the National Women's History Project. This 
accolade is a well-deserved acknowledgment of her efforts to lead 
American women out from lifetimes as second-class citizens into an era 
of far greater equality between the genders, all while being a 
committed wife and mother.
  Just as she did in her home life, Roxcy demanded equal respect in the 
workplace. From equal opportunity to equal pay, she knew that if women 
banded together, we were going to make a difference.
  In 1972, she founded Women in Distress, the first women's rescue 
shelter in Florida to provide emergency housing, rescue services, and 
care to women who found themselves in situations of personal crisis.
  Roxcy was also a fighter on behalf of abused women. At that time, no 
one talked about rape, much less did anything about alleviating the 
horrendous trauma that the victim undergoes. Brave crime victims who 
actually reported their rapes were often treated callously. Roxcy used 
her amazing presence, her force of will and characteristic personality 
as aggressive tools for positive change.
  As an outspoken woman, she made waves on these topics, and by 1974, 
her efforts facilitated the creation of the first rape treatment center 
in the country located in my regional congressional district at Jackson 
Memorial Hospital in Miami. In 1993, this center was proudly renamed 
after Roxcy. She is also known for organizing Florida's first crime 
watch to help curb crime against women.
  For all of these efforts and more, Roxcy has been the recipient of 
numerous civic awards related to her work. That includes the 
prestigious induction into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 1984 for 
forcing police and prosecutors to make rape crime a priority, as well 
as illustrating to health departments the need for rape treatment 
centers.
  She is a true champion for womankind. Her legacy as a champion for 
human rights, an end to sexual discrimination in employment and 
education, as well as in preserving and recognizing women's role in 
history will forever be remembered.
  I am proud to have Roxcy O'Neal Bolton in my congressional district. 
As Roxcy would certainly say, the struggle for women's equality issues 
is far from over. Yet, with her example, I am confident that we will 
continue to push ahead and positively change the future for our 
daughters and granddaughters.
  So, again, Roxcy, congratulations on being honored as a National 
Women's History Project 2014 Women of Character, Courage and 
Commitment. You have given countless girls and women the ability to 
pursue their full potential.
  Congratulations to Roxcy, and may you keep fighting for many years 
still.

                          ____________________