March 5, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 44 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H1508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  (Ms. ADAMS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the women of the United 
States House of Representatives for Women's History Month.
  This Women's History Month marks the 100th year of women's suffrage 
in the United States.
  While the first Congresswoman joined the House in 1917, the first 
woman of color didn't join our Chamber until Hawaii sent Patsy Mink to 
Washington in 1965. And the first African American Congresswoman didn't 
arrive until the unbossed and unbought Shirley Chisholm joined us in 
1969.
  Our colleague, Nancy Pelosi, became the first and only woman Speaker 
of the House in 2007.
  In 2014, I will never forget, I was honored to be elected by the 
people of North Carolina's 12th District to serve as the 100th woman in 
the 113th Congress.
  In 2018, a record 127 women were elected to Congress, with over 100 
women in the House alone.
  However, there is still work to be done. 127 out of 535 is just 24 
percent, and that is not what our country looks like.
  We need more women Members because, despite the fact that women have 
had the vote for 100 years, we still don't have equal justice under the 
law.
  To this day, we are still paid less for our work, face workplace 
harassment, and are discriminated against simply because of being who 
we are. Women work full time, year-round still only making 82 cents on 
the dollar for the earnings men make.
  Fighting against these disparities and ensuring our Federal 
Government and policies are reflective of the whole country is why 
having women in Congress is so important.
  So, as we honor women's history, let's remember that all of us have 
not only the ability, but also the obligation to make history.

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