Political Quotes

“I join my colleagues with the Congressional Black Caucus in this Special Order in recognition of Women's History Month. I want to offer a special mention for the U.S. House of Representatives women firsts: Congresswoman Jeanette Rankin of Montana who was the first elected woman member of the House of Representatives; Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Hawaii was the first woman of color and the first Asian American woman elected to Congress; Congresswoman Shirley Anita Chisholm of New York who was the first African-American Congresswoman member of the House of Representatives; and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen whom we have the honor of working with is the first Hispanic woman elected to serve in Congress. National Women's History Month's roots go back to March 8, 1857, when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions. International Women's Day was first observed in 1909. In 1981, Congress passed a law authorizing the President to proclaim March 7, 1982 as ``Women's History Week.'' It was a modest beginning, but very significant to women because it started a societal and cultural change in how women--and especially young girls saw themselves within the American story. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution for Women's History Month, and the President has issued a proclamation.…”