PRINTER'S NO. 24
No. 28 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY KIRKLAND, BISHOP, CORRIGAN, YUDICHAK, GRUCELA,
BLACKWELL, CALTAGIRONE, CRUZ, DALLY, EACHUS, FABRIZIO,
FRANKEL, GEORGE, HERSHEY, KENNEY, LEACH, LEVDANSKY, McCALL,
OLIVER, PETRARCA, PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, SAINATO,
STABACK, E. Z. TAYLOR, VEON, WATERS, BUXTON, DALEY, DERMODY,
D. EVANS, FORCIER, FREEMAN, GOODMAN, JAMES, LaGROTTA,
LEDERER, MANDERINO, MELIO, PALLONE, PHILLIPS, PRESTON,
REICHLEY, RUBLEY, SHANER, SURRA, THOMAS, WASHINGTON,
WHEATLEY, WOJNAROSKI, BEBKO-JONES, TANGRETTI, YOUNGBLOOD AND
BALDWIN, JANUARY 25, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
JANUARY 25, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing and honoring the legacy of the Honorable Shirley
2 Anita St. Hill Chisholm.
3 WHEREAS, Shirley St. Hill Chisholm, a relentless and
4 perseverant African-American woman political activist, passed
5 away on January 1, 2005, at 80 years of age; and
6 WHEREAS, Ms. Chisholm's political career began in 1964 when
7 she ran successfully for a New York State Assembly seat; and
8 WHEREAS, Ms. Chisholm represented New York's 12th
9 Congressional District from 1964 through 1968; and
10 WHEREAS, During her tenure in the New York state legislature,
11 Ms. Chisholm proposed a bill to provide state aid to day-care
12 centers and voted to increase funding for schools on a per-pupil
13 basis; and
1 WHEREAS, In 1968 Ms. Chisholm became the first African-
2 American woman elected to the Congress of the United States,
3 where she was widely considered one of the foremost female
4 orators with a character in keeping with her campaign slogan,
5 "unbought and unbossed"; and
6 WHEREAS, Congresswoman Chisholm was known as a politician who
7 refused to allow fellow politicians, including the male-
8 dominated Congressional Black Caucus, to deter her from her
9 goals; and
10 WHEREAS, Congresswoman Chisholm supported the improvement of
11 employment and education programs and the expansion of day care
12 and other programs to improve inner-city life and opportunity;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, Congresswoman Chisholm advocated for the end of the
15 military draft and reduced defense spending for the Vietnam War;
16 and
17 WHEREAS, In 1970, Congresswoman Chisholm was a sought-after
18 public speaker and cofounder of the National Organization for
19 Women (NOW) and published her first book, "Unbought and
20 Unbossed: An Autobiography"; and
21 WHEREAS, In 1972, Congresswoman Chisholm became the first
22 African-American woman to campaign for the presidency of the
23 United States, running as "a candidate of the people"; and
24 WHEREAS, In doing so, Congresswoman Chisholm paved the way
25 for other African Americans who, as she said in her
26 autobiography "The Good Fight," will feel themselves as capable
27 of running for high political office as any wealthy, good-
28 looking white male; and
29 WHEREAS, Since retiring from Congress in 1982, Congresswoman
30 Chisholm remained active as a political figure, educator and
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1 spokesperson for women's rights and held several university
2 teaching positions; and
3 WHEREAS, During the 1980s, Congresswoman Chisholm was a
4 critical asset to Jesse Jackson's campaigns for the presidency;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, Congresswoman Chisholm created and chaired the
7 increasingly powerful National Political Congress of Black Women
8 and served on the Advisory Council of the National Organization
9 for Women; and
10 WHEREAS, Congresswoman Chisholm earned her rightful place in
11 American history books; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
13 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania note with great sadness the passing
14 of the Honorable Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm, a passionate
15 and effective advocate for the needs of minorities, women and
16 children who has changed the nation's perception about the
17 capabilities of women and African Americans; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives extend heartfelt
19 condolences to the family of Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm;
20 and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
22 the family of Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm.
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