The Women's Suffrage Centennial and the Every Word We Utter Statue

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, this week we honored the 100th anniversary of the House passage of the 19th Amendment. One hundred years ago on May 21st, the House passed HJR 1 proposing an amendment to the Constitution extending the right to vote to women. It took just over a year to ratify this amendment, forever enshrining women's right to vote in our Constitution. At the forefront of this effort was a diverse group of women. From their first official call for equality at the Seneca Falls Convention, across multiple generations, from farms and villages throughout our nation, women organized, educated, and demanded enfranchisement. Through this brave and enduring movement, women received the vote. It is in tribute to the fearlessly bold women who championed equality in our nation that I stand before you today, and ask for your support of H.R. 473 to establish the first outdoor statue dedicated to the Suffrage movement in Washington, D.C. I want to ensure that my daughter and every girl growing up alongside her feel represented and are assured of the fundamental role they play in our society. Passing H.R. 473 and establishing this monument is a critical way to guarantee just that, and to inspire the next generation to continue advocating for justice and equality for one another and for all who will follow them. I urge your support for H.R. 473.

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