Fischer Commemorates Senate Passage of 19th Amendment

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined a bipartisan group of women senators in commemorating the U.S. Senate's passage and ratification of the 19th amendment, which paved the way for women's right to vote. In her remarks, Fischer highlights strong and influential women from Nebraska who have made their mark on our history.

As she delivered her remarks, Senator Fischer wore a yellow rose, donated by the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission, on her lapel. The yellow rose is a symbol of the women's suffrage movement.

Fischer's full remarks as prepared for delivery are below.

Mr. President, I rise today with great honor and pride to join my colleagues in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Senate passage and ratification of the 19thamendment, which paved the way for women's constitutional right to vote in this country.

Today, we celebrate this historic milestone and we honor the suffragists, women of courage who were pioneers and leaders.

These women who fought for their God-given right to vote in the greatest democracy the world has ever seen.

Nearly 100 years ago, with picket signs in hand, Alice Paul led hundreds of brave suffragists to the White House to advocate for the essential role of women's right to vote in our republic.

Today, almost a century later, women make up half of the electorate.

According to the Pew Research Center, more women voted than men in the 2018 elections.

As I stand here today in this chamber alongside the women of the Senate, I'm so grateful for the strength of the women who came before us.

On this historic day, I want to reflect on some of Nebraska's strong and influential women who have made a difference.

Susette LaFlesche Tibbles, served as a translator for Chief Standing Bear during his famous speech when he fought for Native Americans to keep their land.

Pulitzer Prize winning author, Willa Cather who is renowned for her work chronicling life on the Great Plains.

And biographer, novelist, historian, and teacher Mari Sandoz who invested in the next generation of creative writers.

I also think of women in politics from my home state of Nebraska who inspired me to serve my community, my state, and my country.

I think of Kay Orr, Nebraska's first female governor and the first female Republican governor in the United States.

I think of Virginia Smith, my congressional representative and the first woman from Nebraska to hold a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Let us not forget the stories of the suffragists and all of the women throughout our nation's history, whose courage and brilliance changed the world.

It's because of them that we stand today, in the hallowed chamber of the United States Senate with a record number of women serving in Congress, and record numbers of women exercising their constitutional right to vote.

We will never forget the path that brought us here today, and the pioneers who fought for the right of millions of women to participate in the core function of our republic.

I encourage my Senate colleagues to swiftly pass the resolution before us today.

And I hope in doing so, it serves as encouragement and inspiration for future generations of women who will continue to write America's story.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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