Supporting The Goals And Ideals Of A National Suffragists Day

Floor Speech

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF A NATIONAL SUFFRAGISTS DAY -- (House of Representatives - May 08, 2007)

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to imagine a time when our Nation's women did not have the privilege to vote. Thankfully, we have moved past those times to where we currently have the highest number of female Members in the history of the Congress. Although I think it is very difficult for people to realize, in the history of this Congress, we have had only 249 women, and 90 of them are serving now.

As we all know, the struggle for women to achieve this came at great sacrifice. The fight lasted over many decades because of dedicated perseverance of many women. These pioneers were revolutionary in their fight for equality. They worked tirelessly knowing there would be a future when women were seen as equal to men with the ability to vote.

The historical Seneca Falls Convention, held in 1848, was led by a group of innovative women, including Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Following the convention, they formed the National Woman's Suffrage Association and the American Woman's Suffrage Association which merged together in 1890. Through public speeches, marches, parades, pickets, arrests and even hunger strikes, the members of the associations fought their battle across the country. Their historic efforts came to fruition on August 18, 1920, when the Congress ratified the 19th amendment of the Constitution thereby granting women the right to vote. The goal of the suffragist movement endured over 50 years.

Schools around the world teach their students the rich history of the movement, and it is with pleasure that we promote continued awareness through a National Suffragists Day.

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