    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 9088--MAR. 1, 2014

    Proclamation 9088 of March 1, 2014

    Women's History Month, 2014

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Throughout our Nation's history, American women have led movements for
    social and economic justice, made groundbreaking scientific discoveries,
    enriched our culture with stunning works of art and literature, and
    charted bold directions in our foreign policy. They have served our
    country with valor, from the battlefields of the Revolutionary War to
    the deserts of Iraq and mountains of Afghanistan. During Women's History
    Month, we recognize the victories, struggles, and stories of the women
    who have made our country what it is today.
    This month, we are reminded that even in America, freedom and justice
    have never come easily. As part of a centuries-old and ever-evolving
    movement, countless women have put their shoulder to the wheel of
    progress--activists who gathered at Seneca Falls and gave expression to
    a righteous cause; trailblazers who defied convention and shattered
    glass ceilings; millions who claimed control of their own bodies,
    voices, and lives. Together, they have pushed our Nation toward
    equality, liberation, and acceptance of women's right--not only to
    choose their own destinies--but also to shape the futures of peoples and
    nations.
    Through the grit and sacrifice of generations, American women and girls
    have gained greater opportunities and more representation than ever
    before. Yet they continue to face workplace discrimination, a higher
    risk of sexual assault, and an earnings gap that will cost the average
    woman hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of her working
    lifetime.

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    As women fight for their seats at the head of the table, my
    Administration offers our unwavering support. The first bill I signed as
    President was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which made it easier for
    women to challenge pay discrimination. Under the Affordable Care Act, we
    banned insurance companies from charging women more because of their
    gender, and we continue to defend this law against those who would let
    women's bosses influence their health care decisions. Last year,
    recognizing a storied history of patriotic and courageous service in our
    Armed Forces, the United States military opened ground combat units to
    women in uniform. We are also encouraging more girls to explore their
    passions for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and
    taking action to create economic opportunities for women across the
    globe. Last fall, we finalized a rule to extend overtime and minimum
    wage protections to homecare workers, 90 percent of whom are women. And
    this January, I launched a White House task force to protect students
    from sexual assault.
    As we honor the many women who have shaped our history, let us also
    celebrate those who make progress in our time. Let us remember that when
    women succeed, America succeeds. And from Wall Street to Main Street, in
    the White House and on Capitol Hill--let us put our Nation on the path
    to success.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim
    March 2014 as Women's History Month. I call upon all Americans to
    observe this month and to celebrate International Women's Day on
    March 8, 2014, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. I
    also invite all Americans to visit www.WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn
    more about the generations of women who have left enduring imprints on
    our history.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March,
    in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the Independence
    of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-eighth.
    BARACK OBAMA