Women's History Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, this Women's History Month, I find it more important than ever to celebrate and recognize the contributions of women to society. Women's rights are under attack in the United States and around the world. Since the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, we have witnessed policies that are taking away a women's constitutional right to control their own bodies, with many legislators passing harmful abortion restrictions. But, as President Biden said in his State of the Union, ``They have no clue about the power of women in America.''

This year, the National Women's Alliance has chosen the theme of ``Women who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.'' To contribute to this theme, I want to honor Maryland's many famous female activists and community leaders throughout history who promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

First, a woman whose contributions cannot be overstated is Harriet Tubman. An abolitionist and political activist best known as the conductor of the Underground Railroad who emancipated an estimated 300 enslaved people. A paragon of freedom and justice, she was born in Dorchester County, MD, in March of 1822. She was also the first American woman to lead an armed military raid, acting as a spy and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war, she continued to fight for civil rights, leading the charge for women's suffrage with other significant figures such as Susan B. Anthony. The fight for gender equality continues today, as I lead my colleagues in working to recognize ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Second, I want to recognize Rachel Carson, a marine biologist and nature writer, who catalyzed the global environmental movement. In her home in Silver Spring, MD, Rachel Carson wrote ``Silent Spring,'' which outlined the dangers of chemical pesticides to humans and the environment. The pesticide industry pushed back against her, branding her as crazy and communist, but she persevered. Through her continued research and advocacy, ``Silent Spring'' led to the banning of DDT and other pesticides and ultimately led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. She has been an overwhelming influence on my work to preserve our environment and the Chesapeake Bay.

I also want to honor Irene Morgan Kirkaldy, a Black civil rights activist who took a stand against segregation. Kirkaldy, a Baltimore native, was riding a Greyhound bus back home from Virginia in July of 1944 when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a White couple. When her case made it to the Supreme Court, she was represented by Thurgood Marshall, and the Court ruled that segregation violated the Constitution's ``protection of interstate commerce.'' Her bravery paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement going forward, including the monumental Brown v. Board of Education decision and Rosa Parks' similar act of resistance in Alabama. Strengthening civil rights and promoting equity has been a major part of my legislative agenda in Congress and before that in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Another incredible female activist I would like to highlight is Pauline Woo Tsui, a Chinese-American anti-discrimination activist who immigrated to the United States during World War II to escape Japanese occupation. A Montgomery County resident, she supported her family by working at the U.S. Army Map Service, while she also served as manager of the Federal Women's Program, advocating for the rights of around 700 female employees. She cofounded the Organization of Chinese American Women and served on the advisory board for the State Department for International Women's Year in 1975. As a civil servant and activist, Pauline set a standard for gender equity and ensuring girls had access to education worldwide.

I would additionally like to honor Carmen Delgado Votaw, an author, community leader, and public servant. She was born in Humacao, PR, and settled in Bethesda, MD, in 1962. Serving as cochair of the National Advisory Committee for Women and president of the Inter-American Commission of Women of the Organization of American States, she was instrumental in the civil rights movement for Latinx people. She also became the first Latina chief of staff to a Member of Congress, and she worked to address challenges faced by Puerto Ricans.

It would be remiss of me not to mention Sharon Brackett, an LGBTQ+ rights activist who became the first transgender woman elected to public office in Maryland. She pushed Howard County to pass a bill that added gender identity and expression to its anti-discrimination laws and served on the Democratic Central Committee starting in 2018. Further, she was named CEO and president of Tiresias Technologies, as engineer-in-residence at the 3D Maryland Innovation + Prototyping Lab, in Columbia.

While these are only a sampling of change-making women in Maryland, they are a symbol of the drive and power that women have brought nationwide. Women outnumber and outvote men, and their continued leadership will be instrumental in promoting the values of the United States: liberty and freedom for all.

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