    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9847 of March 1, 2019

    Women's History Month, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    During Women's History Month, we celebrate the countless women whose
    courage and resolve have contributed to the character and success of our
    Nation and the entire world. The equal opportunity of women in every
    facet of daily life is an essential feature of a free and prosperous
    society. This month, we honor women who have fought for equality and
    against the status quo, and who have broken the bonds of discrimination,
    partiality, and injustice for the benefit of all. These women created a
    legacy that continues to inspire generations of women to live with
    confidence, to have a positive impact on their communities, and to
    improve our Nation every single day.
    Throughout our history, women have dedicated their lives to achieving
    equal rights for all Americans. They envisioned a society where women
    could pursue a formal education, start a business, serve in the
    military, or run for elected office. The example of each of these women
    motivates successive generations to aspire to greatness and to stand
    tall in the face of adversity. We remember all the American women, past
    and present, who have inspired and empowered today's women to advocate
    for their beliefs and pursue their dreams without hesitation.
    Catherine Brewer, who in 1840 became the first woman to earn a
    bachelor's degree, and Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, who graduated from
    medical school to become America's first recognized female physician,
    are in the pantheon of great American women. Both pursued their passion
    to learn and to achieve advanced degrees in an unprecedented way. Their
    achievement marked the beginning of our society's move toward equality
    among men and women in education. They would be proud to know that,
    today, female students constitute the majority of undergraduates in our
    colleges and universities.
    Women also have a rich history of civilian and military leadership,
    service, and sacrifice. The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), for
    example, were remarkable pioneers in military aviation. Founded by Nancy
    Love and Jacqueline Cochran in 1942, WASP grew to a fleet of 1,102 women
    pilots who flew every type of World War II military aircraft for non-
    combat missions domestically. These women were awarded the Congressional
    Gold Medal for their service, and they paved the way for women pilots
    like Captain Rosemary Mariner, the Navy's first female fighter pilot and
    first woman to command a naval aviation squadron. Over the course of her
    24 years of honorable service, Captain Mariner broke many barriers for
    women in the military. When she passed away on January 24, 2019, the
    Navy conducted an all-female flyover in her honor, a first in the
    history of the Armed Forces and a fitting honor for a woman of her
    stature.
    Leaders of our Nation also stand on the shoulders of women like
    Jeannette Rankin, who became the first woman to hold Federal office in
    1916. She predicted: ``I may be the first woman member of Congress, but
    I won't be the last.'' This year, a century after the Congress passed
    the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote, more women are
    serving in the Congress than at any time in our history.

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    My Administration continues to empower women by creating unprecedented
    opportunities for them. The United States economy is booming like never
    before. An all-time record number of women are employed, and, just last
    year, women filled 58 percent of new jobs. Our economic agenda,
    including the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the elimination
    of unnecessary and burdensome regulations, has driven women's
    unemployment to the lowest level in 65 years. My Administration fought
    to provide tax relief to parents by doubling the child tax credit and
    preserving the child and dependent care credit. To help women thrive in
    the labor force and provide for their families, we developed a tax
    credit for employers who offer paid family and medical leave, and I have
    called on the Congress to pass a nationwide paid family leave program.
    Prioritizing the economic empowerment of women has also helped to boost
    our Nation's economy and security. My Administration is committed to
    working with States to reform occupational licensing laws, which
    disproportionately affect women. States and licensing boards can and
    must do more to eliminate unnecessary barriers to career opportunities
    and improve license portability to facilitate career continuity.
    Promoting women's economic empowerment abroad enables developing
    countries to increase their global financial stability. When women are
    fully empowered to reach their economic potential, they invest back into
    their families and communities, which helps their countries thrive. That
    is why I signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum to launch
    the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP), which
    is the first-ever whole-of-government approach to advancing global
    women's economic empowerment. The W-GDP Initiative aims to benefit 50
    million women across the developing world by 2025. It will help women
    prosper in the workforce by improving their access to quality education
    and skills training, funding and supporting women's entrepreneurship and
    access to capital, and working to address legal, regulatory, and
    cultural barriers that hinder women from fully and freely participating
    in the economy.
    This month, we express our gratitude for all American women who continue
    to strengthen our families, communities, and workforce. Our future is
    brighter because of their contributions.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 2019 as Women's
    History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to
    celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2019, with appropriate
    programs, ceremonies, and activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March,
    in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the Independence
    of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-third.
    DONALD J. TRUMP