International Women's Day

Floor Speech

Ms. MOORE. I rise today as the Democratic cochair of the Women's Caucus to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.

Mr. Speaker, I'm so pleased to join millions in our Nation and around the world in commemorating this International Women's Day. We celebrate courageous women in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, and elsewhere, who continue to fight the good fight at great risk to their own lives in the face of being ostracized and persecuted by their families and communities, for women's abilities to be included in the societies in which they live.

We celebrate tremendous women here at home in the United States who have done much to advance the ability of women to work, to vote, to go to school, and to run for and hold elective office. As a woman who is able to serve in Congress today, I know that I stand on the shoulders of these women giants who have sacrificed so much in the past.

But we must also recognize that much needs to be done right here in the United States. In our country, women make only 77 percent of the paycheck that a male would make doing the same job. We know that even after 100 years it is too soon to declare: Mission accomplished.

Recent news reports in Afghanistan show efforts in Afghanistan to pass legislation that would shut down domestic violence shelters. Turning our attention closer to home, in Haiti, we find that after the devastating earthquake, UNICEF has found that the rapes in Haiti are at an all time high. But we've also been fixated in recent weeks by the protests and push for democracy sweeping the Middle East. And women have been leading the charge.

We must also acknowledge the shameful plight of hundreds of thousands of mothers-to-be around the globe who die because of pregnancy or child-related complications. It's shameful that the simple act of childbirth remains a death sentence for hundreds of thousands of women and girls around the world.

We must recommit ourselves to the Millennium Development Goal to reduce dying from pregnancy or childbirth.

Last, I had the honor of attending the State Department's Women of Courage ceremony to honor 10 women.

They were:

Maria Bashir, a prosecutor general in Afghanistan. She handles cases on behalf of women victims of domestic abuse.

Nasta Palazhanka, who at age 20 has led peaceful protests and called attention to the plight of families of political prisoners.

Henriette Ekwe Ebongo from Cameroon, a political activist and publisher of Bebela, she spent a lifetime advancing press freedom, human rights, good governance, and gender equality.

From China, Guo Jianmei, a lawyer. Founder of the Women's Law Center at Peking University, she helped to create a corps of lawyers to defend public interest cases, especially affecting women and other vulnerable groups.

From Cuba, Yoani Sanchez. She has an international following for her blog to provide insight into life in Cuba and to expand information flow and free expression throughout Cuba.

Agnes Osztolykan, elected to the Hungarian Parliament in 2010, the only female Roma Member of Parliament in Hungary.

From Jordan, Eva Abu Halaweh has dedicated her career to advocating for the vulnerable people of Jordan, including women at risk of becoming victims of so-called ``honor crimes.''

From Kyrgyzstan, we have Roza Otunbayeva, who emerged as central Asia's first female head of state and head of government in a traditional, majority Muslim country.

From Mexico, the first woman ever appointed to the position of Assistant Attorney General, Marisela Morales Ibanez, a leader in bringing to justice some of Mexico's most dangerous and notorious criminals.

Last but certainly not least, from Pakistan, Ghulam Sughra has become her village's first female high school graduate and the first teacher at the first school for girls.

Thank you so much for these women and thanks for International Women's Day.

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