Menendez, Lautenberg, Baca: Honor Alice Paul with Congressional Gold Medal

MENENDEZ, LAUTENBERG, BACA: HONOR ALICE PAUL WITH CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

Lawmakers mark 87th anniversary of Congressional resolution supporting suffrage

Marking the 87th anniversary of Congressional efforts to amend the Constitution and thereby approve women's suffrage, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), as well as Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) introduced complementary bills in the Senate and House of Representatives to posthumously award Alice Paul the Congressional Gold Medal. Paul, a New Jersey native, led the successful efforts to introduce and pass the 19th Amendment and was a tireless advocate of women's rights around the world.

"The America we know today would not have been possible without the courage, wisdom and conscience of Alice Paul," Menendez said. "Eighty-seven years ago, because of the efforts of Alice Paul, the Congress kept faith with the high ideals of America and passed a resolution that paved the way for a more equal and freer America. Recognizing Alice Paul with the Congressional Gold Medal is the least we can do to honor the legacy her courage has left on our nation and democracies around the world."

"Alice Paul is an American hero who deserves our nation's appreciation for her leadership in securing women's suffrage and advancing women's rights," Baca said. "She was a resident of the Garden State, so it is particularly appropriate that Senator Bob Menendez and Senator Frank Lautenberg have introduced legislation in the Senate to honor her. I will continue to work with them to make sure that Alice Paul receives recognition."

Alice Paul was a fearless crusader for women's suffrage and women's rights. The complementary bills offered by Menendez, Lautenberg and Baca would posthumously grant Ms. Paul a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her efforts to advance gender equality. This legislation is endorsed by National Council of Women's Organizations, the Alice Paul Institute, the ERA Education Fund, the ERA Campaign Network, the National Women's Party, the Sewell-Belmont House, Business and Professional Women/USA, the National Partnership for Woman & Families and the Equal Rights Alliance, Inc. of Florida.

Alice Paul is perhaps best known for leading the fight to add the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote. The New Jersey native and devout Quaker led one of the first groups to ever picket the White House and later embarked on a three-week hunger strike with her fellow suffragists when they were arrested for their cause.

After the 19th Amendment was ratified, Ms. Paul worked for women's rights around the world. She helped to secure gender equality in the U.N. Charter, helped establish the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women and successfully lobbied Congress to include sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She is also the author of the Equal Rights Amendment and worked tirelessly for its passage until her death in 1977.

http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=255883&&