Mitch Landrieu: “Today is indeed a historic milestone for our Nation. For the majority of this country's history, a full half of our…”

“Today is indeed a historic milestone for our Nation. For the majority of this country's history, a full half of our citizens were left without the right to vote; therefore, they were left without a voice, without a collective voice in the direction of domestic affairs or international affairs for our country. With the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920, this flawed policy was corrected; however, since that time progress and change in this area has come, but very slowly. Today we take a great step forward for our country and the world in approving the nomination of Secretary of State designee Madeleine Albright. Although there is little controversy surrounding our vote today on this confirmation, we should take a moment to note the historical significance of this occasion. There was a time not long ago when the nomination of any woman, regardless of how qualified or experienced, to lead our Nation's foreign policy would have been at the least controversial, and at the most unthinkable. Today, that time is over.”