[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 167 (Monday, August 30, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 52987-52988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19908]



[[Page 52985]]

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Part III





The President





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Proclamation 7806--Women's Equality Day, 2004



Executive Order 13352--Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 167 / Monday, August 30, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 52987]]

                Proclamation 7806 of August 26, 2004

                
Women's Equality Day, 2004

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On Women's Equality Day, we recognize the hard work and 
                perseverance of those who helped secure women's 
                suffrage in the United States. With the ratification of 
                the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920, 
                American women gained one of the most cherished rights 
                and fundamental responsibilities of citizenship: the 
                right to vote.

                The struggle for women's suffrage in America dates back 
                to the founding of our country. The movement began in 
                earnest at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, when 
                women drafted a Declaration of Sentiments proclaiming 
                they had the same rights as men. In 1916, Jeannette 
                Rankin of Montana became the first American woman 
                elected to the United States House of Representatives, 
                despite the fact that her fellow women would not be 
                able to vote nationally for 4 more years. These women 
                and many more like them worked to ensure that future 
                generations of women could realize the promise of 
                America.

                Today, American women are leaders in business, 
                government, law, science, medicine, the arts, 
                education, and many other fields. Women-owned 
                businesses account for nearly half of all privately 
                held firms and are opening at twice the rate of male-
                owned businesses. Through vision, determination, and a 
                strong work ethic, remarkable American women have 
                broadened opportunities for themselves and women around 
                the world.

                The full participation of women and the protection of 
                their rights as citizens are essential for freedom and 
                democracy to flourish. In Afghanistan, women helped 
                draft their country's new constitution in January 2004, 
                which guarantees free elections and full participation 
                by women. These women are eager to exercise their 
                rights and are registering to vote in great numbers; 
                about 40 percent of those registered to vote in the 
                October Afghan Presidential elections are women. In 
                Iraq, women are members of the new interim Iraqi 
                government and the recently established National 
                Council. They also participated in drafting the 
                Transitional Administrative Law, which prohibits 
                discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, or 
                religion and requires that 25 percent of the new 
                legislature be women. In the face of great challenges, 
                Iraqi women are building a better nation for themselves 
                and their families.

                As we look to the future, we celebrate the 
                extraordinary accomplishments of women in America and 
                throughout the world and renew our commitment to 
                equality for all women, both at home and abroad.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2004, as Women's 
                Equality Day. I call upon the people of the United 
                States to observe this day with appropriate programs 
                and activities.

[[Page 52988]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand four, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-19908
Filed 8-27-04; 11:31 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P