PRINTER'S NO. 1744
No. 142 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY SCHWARTZ, KUKOVICH, KASUNIC, AFFLERBACH, O'PAKE,
COSTA, GERLACH, TARTAGLIONE, EARLL, FUMO, RHOADES, STAPLETON,
TOMLINSON, KITCHEN, MUSTO, STOUT, MELLOW AND HOLL,
MARCH 10, 1998
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 10, 1998
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the women's
2 rights movement under the theme "Living the Legacy: Women's
3 Rights Movement 1848-1998."
4 WHEREAS, This year marks the 150th anniversary of the women's
5 rights movement in the United States, a bold and courageous
6 civil rights movement that began in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New
7 York, at the first Women's Rights Convention ever held; and
8 WHEREAS, The Declaration of Sentiments issued by that
9 Convention represents a work as fundamental to our nation's
10 commitment to liberty and personal freedom as does our
11 Declaration of Independence; and
12 WHEREAS, That declaration launched a movement that has
13 changed this nation and the hopes of its women irrevocably; and
14 WHEREAS, The women's rights movement has had a profound and
15 undeniable impact on all aspects of American life and has opened
16 new and well-deserved opportunities for women in all fields of
17 endeavor, including commerce, athletics, business, education,
1 religion, the arts and scientific exploration; and
2 WHEREAS, The history of this 150-year period, spanning seven
3 generations of unceasing work to achieve equality for fully half
4 the American population, still remains unknown and unrecognized
5 by our nation's citizens; and
6 WHEREAS, The girls and boys of today, together have lives far
7 richer and far fairer as a direct result of the women's rights
8 movement, yet they have scant opportunity to know the heroes and
9 lessons of this vital movement through the textbooks of most
10 classrooms; and
11 WHEREAS, The 21st century will find an ever-increasing need
12 for both women and men to share in the fundamental
13 responsibilities for our national life and the blessings that
14 must result from full and equal participation in society; and
15 WHEREAS, There still remain substantial barriers to the full
16 equality of America's women before our freedom as a nation can
17 be called complete; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize and celebrate the 150th
19 anniversary of the women's rights movement under the national
20 theme, "Living the Legacy: Women's Rights Movement 1848-1998,"
21 and call on educators, government officials, businesses and all
22 citizens to mark this year of celebration with appropriate
23 programs, ceremonies and activities remembering with gratitude
24 those who have contributed to the nation as envisioned and
25 created where all have by right a position of equality,
26 fairness, justice and freedom in the society of the United
27 States of America.
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