Women's History Month
Floor Speech
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Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, the United States won its independence 250 years ago in the Revolutionary War, and our journey as the United States of America began. Yet, 250 years ago, I could not be standing where I am today. Women did not have the right to vote, to hold public office, or to own property 250 years ago. Some women were property 250 years ago. Women were a footnote to the story of our country's founding 250 years ago.
Today, 250 years later, women make up 125 Members in the Congress, and the Democratic Women's Caucus is 96 strong. Women now make up more than 58 percent of college graduates, 40 percent of all businesses are women owned, and more than 52 Fortune 500 companies are led by women.
This kind of change did not happen by accident. It happened because our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, aunties, sisters, and cousins dared greatly and forged new paths for us to walk on. The freedoms and privileges we enjoy today are because of those who came before us. These are their stories.
Over the next hour, we will hear from women Members across the country who will share the stories of heroines who changed the course of history.
Deborah Ross.
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Ms. SCHOLTEN. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Morrison).
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Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, clearly, history is still being made this Women's History Month as we have an unprecedented number of changemaker women from across the country who are standing up and fiercely defending their constituents. We are so grateful for their work in Congress.
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Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Speaker, as the first woman in history to hold my seat in Congress, I am always thinking about the history-making women of the past, present, and future. I am honored to highlight a few stories of history-making women Michiganders now.
I am honored to highlight Michigander Harriet Quimby, the first American woman to earn a pilot's license and the first woman ever to fly solo across the English Channel. Her career in aviation was short but accomplished.
Flying from the U.S. to England, Mexico, and more, Harriet's legacy serves as a reminder that women can soar to whatever heights they set their minds to.
We are so proud to claim that Sojourner Truth made her home in Michigan for the last 27 years of her life, a fearless abolitionist and women's rights advocate who used her powerful voice to demand justice. Born into slavery, she escaped and dedicated her life to fighting for freedom and equality. Her famous ``Ain't I a Woman?'' speech challenged the exclusion of Black women from the suffrage movement, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
Anna Howard Shaw was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, becoming one of the first female ordained ministers in the United States and later a physician. She dedicated decades to the fight for women's suffrage, serving as the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Her leadership and relentless advocacy helped secure the right to vote, proving that determination and conviction, as well as persistence, can change the course of history.
Clara Arthur, known as the Mother of the Playground Movement, believed in creating a better world for future generations. As president of the Michigan Equal Suffrage Association, she worked tirelessly to advocate for women's voting rights. Her activism extended beyond the ballot box. She championed education, labor reforms, and public spaces for children, ensuring that progress didn't just mean progress for some. It meant progress for all.
Lucia Voorhees Grimes was a dedicated suffragist who played a pivotal role in Michigan's fight for women's voting rights. As a leader in the Michigan Equal Suffrage Association, she traveled the State organizing campaigns, educating voters, and pushing for legislative change. Her unwavering commitment helped pave the way for Michigan women to claim their rightful place in the democratic process.
These are the stories of past historymakers who have changed the course of our Nation. The freedoms we enjoy today are because they refused to sit idly by, and now, as we see unprecedented attacks on our healthcare, on our rights, we also see everyday women, especially in places like my hometown in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who refuse to sit quiet.
I refuse to stand by while Republicans, Donald Trump, and billionaires like Elon Musk try to gut essential programs like Medicaid, a lifeline that millions of families rely on.
No parent should have to choose between their child's health and paying their bills. We are fighting to protect the care that women and families depend on because healthcare isn't a privilege for the wealthy; it is a right for everyone.
I highlight a brave mom from my district, Abby Koroma, a mother of two visually impaired daughters who depend on Medicaid. Without this critical program, Abby would be forced to make impossible decisions: whether she has enough in her bank account for treatments that could save her children's vision or putting food on the table.
No parent should have to face that choice, but Republicans in Congress right now, aided by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, are willing to rip away this essential healthcare from families like Abby's just to hand out more tax cuts to the ultrawealthy.
We won't let it happen. We are the women who are standing in the gap and standing up for these families. We will fight every day to protect Medicaid, to stand up for families who depend on it, and to make sure that no one in this country is left wondering whether they can afford the care that they need for themselves or their families.
I stand here today so that no one has to wonder who they have fighting for them. We are here, standing together and fighting for families across the country.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the women who joined me here today to stand up and highlight the powerful women of their home States and the impacts that they have had on changing the course of history.
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