[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9402 of February 29, 2016

Women's History Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Throughout history, women have driven humanity forward on the path to a
more equal and just society, contributing in innumerable ways to our
character and progress as a people. In the face of discrimination and
undue hardship, they have never given up on the promise of America: that
with hard work and determination, nothing is out of reach. During
Women's History Month, we remember the trailblazers of the past,
including the women who are not recorded in our history books, and we
honor their legacies by carrying forward the valuable lessons learned
from the powerful examples they set.
For too long, women were formally excluded from full participation in
our society and our democracy. Because of the courage of so many bold
women who dared to transcend preconceived expectations and prove they
were capable of doing all that a man could do and more, advances were
made, discoveries were revealed, barriers were broken, and progress
triumphed. Whether serving in elected positions across America, leading
groundbreaking civil rights movements, venturing into unknown frontiers,
or programming revolutionary technologies, generations of women that
knew their gender was no obstacle to what they could accomplish have
long stirred new ideas and opened new doors, having a profound and
positive impact on our Nation. Through hardship and strife and in every
realm of life, women have spurred change in communities around the
world, steadfastly joining together to overcome adversity and lead the
charge for a fairer, more inclusive, and more progressive society.
During Women's History Month, we honor the countless women who
sacrificed and strived to ensure all people have an equal shot at
pursuing the American dream. As President, the first bill I signed into
law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, making it easier for working
American women to effectively challenge illegal, unequal pay
disparities. Additionally, my Administration proposed collecting pay
data from businesses to shine a light on pay discrimination, and I
signed an Executive Order to ensure the Federal Government only works
with and awards contracts to businesses that follow laws that uphold
fair and equal labor practices. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act,
insurance

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companies can no longer charge women more for health insurance simply
because of their gender. And last year, we officially opened for women
the last jobs left unavailable to them in our military, because one of
the best ways to ensure our Armed Forces remains the strongest in the
world is to draw on the talents and skills of all Americans.
Though we have made great progress toward achieving gender equality,
work remains to be done. Women still earn, on average, less for every
dollar made by men, which is why I continue to call on the Congress to
pass the Paycheck Fairness Act--a sensible step to provide women with
basic tools to fight pay discrimination. Meanwhile, my Administration
has taken steps to support working families by fighting for paid leave
for all Americans, providing women with more small business loans and
opportunities, and addressing the challenges still faced by women and
girls of color, who consistently face wider opportunity gaps and
structural barriers--including greater discrepancies in pay. And
although the majority of our Nation's college and graduate students are
women, they are still underrepresented in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics, which is why we are encouraging more women
and girls to pursue careers in these fields.
This May, the White House will host a summit on ``The United State of
Women,'' to highlight the advances we have made in the United States and
across the globe and to expand our efforts on helping women confront the
challenges they face and reach for their highest aspirations. We must
strive to build the future we want our children to inherit--one in which
their dreams are not deferred or denied, but where they are uplifted and
praised. We have come far, but there is still far to go in shattering
the glass ceiling that holds women back. This month, as we reflect on
the marks made by women throughout history, let us uphold the
responsibility that falls on all of us--regardless of gender--and fight
for equal opportunity for our daughters as well as our sons.
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 2016 as Women's
History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to
celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2016, 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 twenty-ninth day of
February, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA