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[Page S1623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 100th
anniversary of the League of Women Voters of the United States. With a
commitment to civic participation, the League has secured its place
nationally as a relied-upon source of voter education and a protector
of voting rights. The centennial celebration is a historical benchmark
for the State of Michigan, as well as the entire Nation.
Just 6 months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the
suffragists of the National American Woman Suffrage Association as well
as other suffrage groups embarked on a mission to ensure that voters,
particularly women, would have the necessary nonpartisan information to
make informed decisions on who and what to support in elections. With
this newfound mission, the suffrage movement began a ``mighty political
experiment'' designed to help 20 million women carry out their new
civic duty.
With Michigan women winning the right to vote in 1918, the mission to
educate Michigan women voters started before the League was established
nationally when the Michigan League of Women Voters formed out of the
Michigan Equal Suffrage Association in 1919. The following year, they
became part of the League of Women Voters of the United States. The
early Michigan LWV advocated for changes to State-level voter
registration laws and civil service reform; they also established
citizenship classes through citizenship schools in people's homes. Many
of their actions influenced early programs of the National League, and
the intent of those programs continue today through the League's work.
While the League is nonpartisan, even from their conception, the
League used their voice and their platform for advocacy. One of their
earliest initiatives was for child welfare reform, as well as civil
service and election law reforms across the country. In 1941, the
League advocated successfully for amending Michigan State law to forbid
factory work by those under 16 and to mandate school attendance by all
children between the ages of 7 and 16. Other major legislation the
League advocated for includes the Equal Rights Amendment, National
Voter Registration Act, and the Help America Vote Act.
Today, Leagues from across the country advocate for issues such as
fighting voter suppression, limiting the influence of money in
politics, and redistricting. They are constantly encouraging and
pushing for further investment in our election infrastructure and
election security. With a presence in over 700 communities and across
all 50 States, the League of Women Voters of the United States has
become an activist, grassroots organization which plays a critical role
in our democracy.
It is my great pleasure to congratulate the League of Women Voters of
the United States on the lasting impact it has made throughout our
Nation's history and for the work it continues to do. As the League of
Women Voters of the United States celebrates this centennial milestone,
I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating its members and
extending best wishes for continued success in the years ahead.
____________________
