Honoring New Hampshire State Senate

Floor Speech

Honoring New Hampshire State Senate

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Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As I said in the previous resolution that I was managing here on the floor, while I am supportive of this legislation, the previous commemorating resolution and the additional one that the Oversight and Government Reform Committee is offering here for consideration today, I believe that Congress should be, instead, focusing on higher-priority initiatives. We're facing record unemployment, deficits that threaten to bankrupt the country, and a stimulus that is failing to create new jobs. Congress should be considering legislation providing real and immediate economic solutions for the American people before naming and commemorating anything.

But having said that, I do think it is important to recognize the State of New Hampshire for their major milestone, and I rise in support of H. Res. 159, honoring the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the first statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States. It is a significant achievement. As a result of the 2008 statewide elections, 13 of 24 seats in the Senate are now held by women, an increase of three members which resulted in their majority status. On the national level, less than one in four legislators is female and eight of 50 Governors is a woman. These numbers continue to grow with each election year throughout the country.

I'm pleased to salute the women of New Hampshire for their commitment to public service as well as women throughout the United States who choose to serve our citizens on the local, State and Federal levels as their elected representatives. We certainly commend the wonderful work and addition that New Hampshire has been able to meet by this wonderful milestone.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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