Women's History Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for that kind introduction and also the gentlewoman from Florida for hosting this Special Order hour. They come here every week bringing the message from the CBC, and they do an incredible job.

Also, it is very difficult to follow my classmate, the former chair lady of the CBC. It is a very hard act to follow. When I see her, I kind of cringe because I know I better get it together. The Honorable Joyce Beatty has been a true friend, sister, and colleague to me.

And to you, Madam Speaker, as you sit in that seat, it is apropos that this month you have been given the honor to stand over the Speaker's rostrum and control the House of Representatives, so I salute you, as well, as a woman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the influence and achievements of Black women in America during Women's History Month. First, I will discuss the origins of Women's History Month.

Women's History Month started as Women's History Week in Santa Rosa, California, in 1978. The local Sonoma County Commission on the status of women planned a week of celebratory events to connect the International Women's Day on March 8.

The events highlighted the many contributions of women to American history, culture, and society. It included school presentations in Sonoma County, a student essay contest to honor local women with the parade through downtown Santa Rosa.

The year after that, Santa Rosa's historic week triggered similar events to celebrate women in communities nationwide.

In addition, historians and women activist groups began to push for a National Women's History Week.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential proclamation to declare the first week in March as National Women's History Week.

However, 1 week was not enough to celebrate the enormous contributions of women to American history, so Congress created Women's History Month in 1987. It is stated that the month would recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of America's history in a variety of fields.

This month, we honor women from all races, cultures, and creeds during Women's History Month. However, we are here today as the CBC to honor Black women who have made a difference in America, and many of them need to be recognized more often: Women like Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to be a licensed pilot in this country; Alice Coachman, the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal for the United States of America; Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States; Phillis Wheatley, the first Black woman to publish a book in this great country; and Mary Jane Patterson, the first Black woman to graduate from an established college.

We also have Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first Black nurse and eventual cofounder of the American Nurses Association. More than that, Mahoney was one of the first women to register to vote in Boston after her retirement in 1920.

Maggie Lena Walker, the first Black woman to start a bank and serve as the president of a U.S. bank.

Alice Dunnigan, the first Black woman to cover the White House as a reporter.

Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to become an astronaut and go into space. Jemison overcame her fear of heights to do that. Can you imagine?

These extraordinary Black women are a few of the millions who have made a difference in our country. Today, Black women are setting new standards of excellence in the sciences, the arts, athletics, politics, mathematics, education, medicine, and the law, just to name a few.

I am proud to be here to celebrate the contributions of Black women-- I am the product of a Black woman--and all women, to the betterment of America. They have helped to build this country, and we must do everything possible to protect the rights they have worked so hard for. As we discuss the whole notion around Black women and what they have contributed to this country, let's not forget all women and what they have done in this country.

I am just honored to be here on the floor tonight to say thank you to the many Black women who have made a difference in my life. To name a few: Jean Blakely; Esther Wright; Kay Thompson Payne; Dr. Jacqueline Young; Wanda Payne, my late sister; Sarah Jones.

I have been molded by Black women all my life, and I just feel an obligation to stand in the trenches and help them advance their careers. I am just really delighted to be here and express my gratitude to Black women and women as a whole.

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