House Passes Woolsey Resolution Honoring Women's History Month

Press Release

National celebration got its start in Sonoma County

The House of Representatives today unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey honoring Women's History Month. March is recognized nationwide as ‘National Women's History Month,' an effort initially designed to educate students about the impact that women have had throughout history. The movement got its start during the 1970s as a proposal put forth by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, which Woolsey participated in. Woolsey took to the House floor on Tuesday to urge passage of the resolution:

"I rise in support of H. Res. 211, a resolution honoring women's history month. Women were once considered second-class citizens whose rights were restricted, from voting to property ownership. But today, women serve in the senate, the House of Representatives, as members of the President's Cabinet, and as Speaker of the House.

"It's important that the role that women have played in the shaping of this country is honored. However, it wasn't until the late 1970s that women's history was taught in our schools and was almost completely absent in media coverage and cultural celebrations.

"That's why, in 1978 the Education Taskforce of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, which I chaired, initiated a ‘Women's History Week' celebration, centered around International Women's History Day.

"The National Women's History Project, located in my district, was founded in 1980 by many dedicated women who poured their hearts and ideas into promoting and expanding the week-long celebration.

"Because several dedicated women, including Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett, and Bette Morgan decided to write women back in history, thousands of schools and communities started to commemorate Women's History Week by bringing lessons on women's achievements into the classroom, staging parades, and engaging neighborhoods and churches in the celebration of the contributions of women.

"The hard work and dedication of these women and the support of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women paid off. They started a national movement and in 1981 Congress responded to the growing popularity of Women's History Week by making it a national observance, and eventually expanding the week to a month in 1987.

"Imagine what American history lessons would be today without teaching about Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad; or the work of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, or Dr. Sally K. Ride, who was the first woman in space and encouraged young girls to get interested in science.

"Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in reaffirming our commitment to the celebration of women's history by supporting H. Res 211 to ensure that our grandchildren and great grandchildren learn more about women like Amelia Earhart, and eventually learn about the first woman President.

"Let us reflect on the contributions of women and their place in history, with the hope that the day will come, and soon, when it's impossible to study American history without remembering the contribution of women."

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