[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8814]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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               CONGRATULATING THE FRANCES PERKINS CENTER

 Mr. KING. Mr. President, I wish to congratulate the Frances 
Perkins Center on the designation of the Frances Perkins Homestead, 
located in Newcastle, ME, as a National Historic Landmark. The Brick 
House was the home of the remarkable Frances Perkins, the first woman 
appointed to a Presidential cabinet. This is an honor that has been 
given to only 2,500 other historic places in the United States and I 
applaud the Frances Perkins Center for receiving this distinction.
  Frances Perkins found that no matter where she lived during her life, 
her true home would always be in Maine. While she was born in Boston in 
1880, both of her parents were native Mainers. She grew up living in 
Worcester and spending summers with her grandmother on the family's 
saltwater farm in Newcastle. Frances credited her own character to be a 
direct result of her grandmother's influence and their time together in 
Maine.
  Frances was a motivated and inquisitive person from a young age. She 
attended Classical High School in Worcester and, though it was uncommon 
at the time, she went on to Mount Holyoke College where she was a 
standout student. Professors immediately noticed Frances' ambition and 
natural intellect. Frances graduated from Mont Holyoke in 1902 with a 
major in physics and minors in chemistry and biology.
  Throughout her life, Frances was devoted to improving the lives of 
American workers. After college, Frances moved to Illinois, working as 
a teacher and volunteering in settlement houses. She then received her 
master's degree from Colombia and subsequently began her extraordinary 
career in public service, working for the New York City Consumers 
League and then the New York State Industrial Commission.
  The impressive work by Frances for the Industrial Commission led to 
newly elected New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt to name her New 
York State Commissioner of Labor. She received attention and admiration 
in this role for her ceaseless commitment to improving work conditions 
in New York. In February 1933, Roosevelt appointed Frances Secretary of 
Labor in his Presidential cabinet. Frances was the first female Federal 
cabinet official, which remains one of her most notable and outstanding 
achievements.
  Frances' accomplishments as Secretary of Labor had, and continue to 
have, a profound impact on American lives. Frances was the lead 
architect in designing New Deal policies during the Great Depression; 
however, her work did not stop there. She was incredibly influential in 
creating legislation for Social Security and establishing a 40-hour 
work week. Frances is also known for her major role in prohibiting 
child labor, enforcing worker's rights, and designing unemployment 
insurance as well as workers' aid.
  Frances' beliefs, values, and spirit grew from her strong connection 
to Maine. Frances regularly returned to her Maine home, especially when 
she desired a haven to rest and remember her roots. She owned and 
maintained the family farm in Newcastle from 1927 until she died on May 
14, 1965 at the age of 85. She is buried nearby the homestead.
  I am thrilled at the nomination of the Frances Perkins Homestead as a 
National Historic Landmark. Frances was a fearless leader who 
exemplified American values of hard work and determination. Frances' 
work lives on as an essential benefit to countless American citizens. I 
am proud that her legacy is a part of Maine's history and I warmly 
congratulate the Frances Perkins Homestead, and all those involved with 
achieving this accomplishment, on its dedication as a National Historic 
Landmark.

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