2025 -- H 6023
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2025, TO BE "WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH" IN THE STATE
OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Carson, Spears, Donovan, Speakman, Boylan,
Shallcross Smith, Chippendale, Shekarchi, and Blazejewski
Date Introduced: March 04, 2025
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, The year 2025 marks the 38th annual celebration of National Women's 1
History Month; and 2
WHEREAS, During March 6-12 of 1978, the very first unofficial "National Women's 3
History Week" was celebrated in Santa Rosa, California, by the Sonoma County Commission on 4
the Status of Women's Education Task Force, including International Women's Day on March 5
8th; and 6
WHEREAS, On July 14-29, 1979, Nancy Rose Foye-Cox, now of Richmond, Rhode 7
Island, and Deborah N. Pearlman, Ph.D, now of Providence, were two of 52 participants in the 8
"Summer Institute in Women's History" at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, 9
representing 37 national women's organizations, who called for the first ever National Women's 10
History Week in 1980, and all participants were also National Women's Month national co-11
founders in 1987; and 12
WHEREAS, On February 28, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the very first 13
"National Women's History Week" Proclamation for the Week of March 2-8, 1980; and 14
WHEREAS, On March 12, 1987, the United States Senate and House of Representatives 15
passed a Joint Resolution, designating the first official "Women's History Month"; and 16
WHEREAS, On March 16, 1987, President Ronald Reagan signed and issued the very 17
first Presidential Proclamation designating March as "Women's History Month"; and 18
WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic 19
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contributions to the growth and strength of our State and Nation in countless recorded and 1
unrecorded ways; and 2
WHEREAS, Women have played and continue to play critical economic, cultural, and 3
social roles in every sphere of life in Rhode Island by constituting a significant portion of the 4
labor force working inside and outside of the home; and 5
WHEREAS, Women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, 6
philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our State; and 7
WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders 8
in the forefront of every major social change movement and have served our country 9
courageously in all branches of the military and public safety; and 10
WHEREAS, Women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage 11
and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the 12
industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and especially the peace movement, which 13
creates a fairer and just society for all; and 14
WHEREAS, Despite these contributions, the role of women has been consistently 15
overlooked and undervalued, in the literature, culture, and the study of American history; and 16
WHEREAS, The National Women's History Month theme for 2025 is "Moving Forward 17
Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations." The National Women's History Alliance 18
(NWHA) chose this theme to honor women who have dedicated their lives to leadership, 19
education, and mentorship. This theme celebrates the influence of women who have inspired 20
generations past, present and future, and highlights the role of women in shaping society. This 21
theme also aims to honor, educate, unite and inspire communities; now, therefore be it 22
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 23
proclaims March of 2025, to be "Women's History Month" in recognition of the myriad 24
contributions of women throughout our history; and be it further 25
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 26
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable President of the United States, 27
Donald Trump, the Honorable Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Daniel McKee, and the 28
Rhode Island Congressional Delegation. 29
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