On the recordMarch 18, 2015
Mr. Speaker, March is Women's History Month, which honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States. Since 1917, when Republican Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman to serve in Congress, 313 women have served as U.S. Representatives, Senators, or Delegates. In 2014, the American people made history by electing a record number of women to Congress. In January, 12 new women were sworn in to the House of Representatives, joining 72 incumbents who won reelection. The number of women serving in the Senate has reached 20, and four of the five nonvoting Delegates are women. These women with rich perspectives and a commitment to good ideas and teamwork are changing the way Washington does business. The women of the 114th Congress are shaping our Nation, and it is an opportunity and responsibility that we take seriously. ____________________
