Louise Slaughter: “today I rise to honor the 157th anniversary of the first women's suffragists movement. Western New York is often said to…”

“today I rise to honor the 157th anniversary of the first women's suffragists movement. Western New York is often said to be the cradle of the women's rights movement, and I am privileged to represent the area where one prominent suffragette, Susan B. Anthony, of Rochester, fought so hard for the rights that women today enjoy. Susan B. Anthony formed the Equal Rights Association, refuted ideas that women were inferior to men, and fought for a woman's right to vote. She also campaigned for the rights of women to own property, to keep their own earnings, and have custody of their children. In 1900, she persuaded the University of Rochester to admit their first women students. Through persistent dedication, Susan B. Anthony, and other remarkable leaders, women were finally granted the right to vote in 1920. Since then, we have made progress, but still have a long way to go. We face the gender gap. And whether it is equal pay, health care, Social Security, or family leave, this Congress has refused to address issues critical to hard-working American women. The suffragist movement had to overcome the rhetoric and the empty promises of Members of this House 85 years ago. Commitment to concrete policies, not grandiose words, honors the battle they fought so hard and won. ____________________”