[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1109 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1109
Recognizing the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 and honoring
the courageous suffragists who fought tirelessly for women's right to
vote.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 26, 2024
Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer, Mrs. Beatty,
Ms. Norton, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Mr.
Neguse, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mrs.
Napolitano, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mrs. McBath, Ms. Crockett, Ms.
Budzinski, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Mullin, Mr.
Deluzio, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Lee of
Pennsylvania, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Titus, Mr.
Davis of Illinois, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Carson, Ms. Brown, Mr. Grijalva,
Mr. Soto, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Brownley, Ms.
Stansbury, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Allred, Mrs. Dingell,
Ms. Craig, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Garcia of
Texas, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Schakowsky, Mrs.
Foushee, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Peters, Ms. Scholten, Ms. Adams,
Ms. Blunt Rochester, Mr. Espaillat, and Mr. Gottheimer) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 and honoring
the courageous suffragists who fought tirelessly for women's right to
vote.
Whereas women have long been denied the right to participate fully in the
democratic process, facing discrimination and disenfranchisement solely
based on their gender;
Whereas the Women's Suffrage Movement emerged in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries as a powerful force advocating for the fundamental right of
women to vote and have a voice in shaping the future of their country;
Whereas, Alice Paul, Chair of the Congressional Committee of the National
American Woman Suffrage Association, championed a shift toward Federal
action, citing the slow progress and high costs associated with State-
by-State referendums on women's suffrage;
Whereas Paul organized a procession on March 3, 1913, to persuade incoming
President Woodrow Wilson of the necessity for a constitutional amendment
for national women's suffrage;
Whereas, on March 3, 1913, the streets of Washington, DC, filled with thousands
of women clad in suffragist white and carrying banners emblazoned with
demands for equal rights and voting privileges;
Whereas, Inez Milholland, a notable suffragist and labor lawyer, led the
procession atop a white horse named ``Grey Dawn'', symbolizing the
suffragists' definition of how a new woman of the 20th century dressed
and behaved;
Whereas the marchers began their journey from the Capitol Grounds and made their
way along Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Treasury Building, with
additional participants waiting at the end of the route in the
grandstand set up for the next day's inauguration;
Whereas the suffragists waved banners and placards bearing slogans such as
``Votes for Women'' and ``We Demand An Amendment To The Constitution of
the United States Enfranchising the Women Of This Country'';
Whereas the procession featured marchers organized into seven sections,
including women from countries with suffrage rights, representatives of
various occupations, sororities and women's clubs, including members of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and State delegations, highlighting
the diverse and widespread support for the suffrage cause;
Whereas, despite initial expectations of a 45-minute procession, the event
lasted several hours, drawing an estimated crowd of up to half a million
spectators, including many in Washington, DC, for Wilson's inauguration;
Whereas, in the face of immense opposition, including verbal harassment and
physical assaults, suffragists were resilient and determined to continue
their march for equality;
Whereas, despite the joint resolution to keep the procession route clear,
spectators at Fifth Street obstructed the path, forcing the marchers to
navigate through a hostile crowd;
Whereas suffragists were subjected to taunts and attacks, including sexual
propositions and being told to ``go home'' by hostile onlookers;
Whereas the violence escalated to the point where at least 100 protesters
required medical attention, and medical professionals had to navigate
through the crowd to reach the injured marchers;
Whereas, despite the challenges and dangers they faced, many suffragists pressed
on and completed the route, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to
the cause;
Whereas the visual spectacle of the procession conveyed the breadth and depth of
women's desire for the franchise;
Whereas the Woman Suffrage Procession demanded equal voting rights for women and
drew attention to the urgent need for political and social reform to
achieve gender equality;
Whereas, as the marchers reached their destination at the gates of the Treasury
Building, they urged incoming President Woodrow Wilson to support the
cause of women's suffrage and champion legislation granting women the
right to vote;
Whereas when President-elect Wilson arrived in Washington, DC, for the next
day's inauguration to little fanfare, one of the incoming President's
staff asked, ``Where are all the people?'', and was told ``Watching the
suffrage parade'', by police on hand;
Whereas the images of that historic procession, captured for posterity in
newspapers and photographs, seared themselves into the collective
consciousness of the Nation, serving as a stark reminder of the
unfinished work of democracy and the urgent need for change;
Whereas the overwhelming support and extensive media coverage of the Woman
Suffrage Procession propelled the movement to the forefront of national
attention;
Whereas the spotlight shed on the procession became a focal point in the ongoing
struggle for women's suffrage, galvanizing public discourse and
garnering widespread support for the cause;
Whereas the bravery and perseverance of the suffragists who participated in the
Woman Suffrage Procession catalyzed the women's suffrage movement into a
national effort focused on Federal legislative change;
Whereas the relentless advocacy of suffragists like Alice Paul and Lucy Burns,
who led the charge at the Woman Suffrage Procession, laid the groundwork
for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States
Constitution, which granted women the right to vote in 1920;
Whereas, as we commemorate this pivotal moment in the history of the women's
rights movement, let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding the
principles of equality and democracy for all, ensuring that the
sacrifices made by the suffragists are honored and their legacy
preserved for future generations;
Whereas the Woman Suffrage Procession underscored the urgent need for Federal
voting rights legislation;
Whereas Federal legislation provides valuable protections in ensuring the right
to vote for all citizens;
Whereas the imperative for Federal voting laws remains paramount, guaranteeing
universal access to the ballot box and transcending the limitations of
State jurisdiction;
Whereas, despite the progress made since the passage of the 19th Amendment,
significant barriers to voting rights and access persist for many
marginalized communities, including women of color;
Whereas it is imperative to recognize the intersectional nature of the struggle
for voting rights, acknowledging that women of color, particularly Black
women, faced not only sexism, but also racism during the Woman Suffrage
Procession and continue to face systemic barriers to political
participation; and
Whereas the ongoing fight for voting rights echoes the struggles of the
suffragists who bravely marched in 1913, reminding us of the importance
of defending and expanding democracy for all Americans: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commemorates the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of
1913 and honors the courageous suffragists who fought
tirelessly for women's right to vote;
(2) recognizes the enduring significance of the Women's
Suffrage Movement in advancing gender equality and political
participation in the United States;
(3) reaffirms its commitment to upholding and protecting
voting rights for all Americans, regardless of gender, race, or
socioeconomic status;
(4) condemns all forms of voter suppression and
discrimination that undermine the integrity of our democracy
and disenfranchise marginalized communities;
(5) calls for renewed efforts to dismantle systemic
barriers to voting and ensure equitable access to the ballot
box for every citizen; and
(6) pledges to continue working toward a more inclusive and
representative democracy that reflects all Americans' voices
and experiences.
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