[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 100 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 100
Recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American
Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 7, 2019
Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. Udall, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr.
Booker, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Daines, Ms. Duckworth, Ms.
Harris, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Lankford, Ms. McSally, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Moran, Mrs.
Murray, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Smith, Mr.
Tester, Ms. Warren, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Sullivan, and Ms.
Sinema) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Indian Affairs
March 28, 2019
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American
Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States.
Whereas the United States celebrates National Women's History Month every March
to recognize and honor the achievements of women throughout the history
of the United States;
Whereas an estimated 3,081,000 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native
Hawaiian women live in the United States;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women helped shape
the history of their communities, Tribes, and the United States;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women contribute to
their communities, Tribes, and the United States through work in many
industries, including business, education, science, medicine,
literature, fine arts, military service, and public service;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have fought to
defend and protect the sovereign rights of Native Nations;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have
demonstrated resilience and courage in the face of a history of
threatened existence, constant removals, and relocations;
Whereas more than 6,000 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian
women bravely serve as members of the United States Armed Forces;
Whereas more than 17,000 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian
women are veterans who have made lasting contributions to the United
States military;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women broke down
historical gender barriers to enlistment in the military, including--
(1) Inupiat Eskimo sharpshooter Laura Beltz Wright of the Alaska
Territorial Guard during World War II; and
(2) Minnie Spotted Wolf of the Blackfeet Tribe, the first Native
American woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps in 1943;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have made the
ultimate sacrifice for the United States, including Lori Ann Piestewa, a
member of the Hopi Tribe and the first woman in the United States
military killed in the Iraq War in 2003;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have
contributed to the economic development of Native Nations and the United
States as a whole, including Elouise Cobell of the Blackfeet Tribe, a
recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, who--
(1) served as the treasurer of her Tribe;
(2) founded the first Tribally owned national bank; and
(3) led the fight against Federal mismanagement of funds held in trust
for more than 500,000 Native Americans;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women own an
estimated 154,900 businesses;
Whereas these Native women-owned businesses employ more than 50,000 workers and
generate over $10,000,000,000 in revenues as of 2016;
Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native women have opened an average of more
than 17 new businesses each day since 2007;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have made
significant contributions to the field of medicine, including Susan La
Flesche Picotte of the Omaha Tribe, who is widely acknowledged as the
first Native American to earn a medical degree;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have
contributed to important scientific advancements, including--
(1) Floy Agnes Lee of Santa Clara Pueblo, who--
G (A) worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II; and
G (B) pioneered research on radiation biology and cancer; and
(2) Native Hawaiian Isabella Kauakea Yau Yung Aiona Abbott, who--
G (A) was the first woman on the biological sciences faculty at
Stanford University; and
G (B) was awarded the highest award in marine botany from the
National Academy of Sciences, the Gilbert Morgan Smith medal, in 1997;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have achieved
distinctive honors in the art of dance, including Maria Tall Chief of
the Osage Nation the first major prima ballerina of the United States
and was a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy
Center;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have
accomplished notable literary achievements, including Northern Paiute
author Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins who wrote and published one of the first
Native American autobiographies in United States history in 1883;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have regularly
led efforts to revitalize and maintain Native cultures and languages,
including--
(1) Tewa linguist and teacher Esther Martinez, who developed a Tewa
dictionary and was credited with revitalizing the Tewa language; and
(2) Native Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui, who published more than
50 academic works and was considered the most noted Hawaiian translator of
the 20th century;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have excelled
in athletic competition and created opportunities for other female
athletes within their sport, including Rell Kapoliokaehukai Sunn who--
(1) ranked as longboard surfing champion of the world; and
(2) co-founded the Women's Professional Surfing Association in 1975,
the first professional surfing tour for women;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have played a
vital role in advancing civil rights, protecting human rights, and
safeguarding the environment, including Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich
of the Tlingit Nation who helped secure the passage of the Anti-
Discrimination Act of 1945 of the Alaska Territory, the first anti-
discrimination law in the United States;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have succeeded
as judges, attorneys, and legal advocates, including Eliza ``Lyda''
Conley, a Wyandot-American lawyer and the first Native woman admitted to
argue a case before the United States Supreme Court in 1909;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have paved the
way for women in the law, including Native Hawaiian Emma Kailikapiolono
Metcalf Beckley Nakuina who served as the first female judge in Hawaii;
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women are dedicated
public servants, holding important positions in State governments, local
governments, the Federal judicial branch, and the Federal executive
branches;
Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native women have served as remarkable Tribal
councilwomen, Tribal court judges, and Tribal leaders, including Wilma
Mankiller, the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the
Cherokee Nation who fought for Tribal self-determination and improvement
of the community infrastructure of her Tribe;
Whereas Native Hawaiian women have also led their People through notable acts of
public service, including Kaahumanu who was the first Native Hawaiian
woman to serve as regent of the Kingdom of Hawaii;
Whereas the United States should continue to invest in the future of American
Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women to address the barriers
they face, including access to justice, health care, and opportunities
for educational and economic advancement; and
Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women are the life
givers, the culture bearers, and the caretakers of Native peoples who
have made precious contributions enriching the lives of all people of
the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates and honors the successes of American Indian,
Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women and the contributions
they have made and continue to make to the United States; and
(2) recognizes the importance of supporting equity,
providing safety, and upholding the interests of American
Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women.
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