The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S3069 on March 12, 2009.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am proud to help celebrate Women's History Month today. This is a time to celebrate the contributions of women throughout our history and to recognize the work of so many to secure women's rights and fulfill our Nation's promise of equal justice under the law.
My own State can be proud that so many Wisconsin women have made critical contributions to the movement for women's suffrage, to education, and to countless other areas of American life. Wisconsin achieved extraordinary things to pave the way for suffrage and social progress for generations to come. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, in 1919 Wisconsin was the first State to ratify the 19th amendment to grant women the right to vote. Sixty years before that historic moment, one of the great leaders of the suffrage movement, Carrie Chapman Catt, was born in Ripon, WI. Catt's lifelong effort to pass the 19th amendment, especially her leadership of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, was vital to the Amendment's ultimate success. And Catt didn't stop there. Once the amendment was ratified, she founded the League of Women Voters to continue and build on the momentum for change that the women's suffrage movement created. Catt's lifetime of persistence and dedication--as a leader for change and, earlier in her life, as the only woman in her graduating class at Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm--reminds us how hard women throughout our history have worked to secure our rights and freedoms.
We also remember the amazing Wisconsin women who have enriched their local communities, including Margaret Schurz. Schurz started the first kindergarten in the Nation in Watertown, WI, in 1856. Her efforts led to the implementation of kindergarten and early-education programs throughout the United States. Her legacy is a great example of the impact Wisconsin women have had in bringing about progressive change in education and many other areas.
This month we also know that we must continue to advocate for fundamental fairness and equality for women. The enactment of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 to help ensure protection from pay discrimination represents another step forward, but there remains a long road ahead of us. In addition to passing the Fair Pay Act, Congress needs to do more to ensure all of America's citizens receive equal pay for equal work. Wage discrimination costs families thousands of dollars each year. This is hard-earned money that working women simply cannot afford to lose. I am a proud cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act introduced earlier this year. This legislation strengthens penalties for employers who violate the Equal Pay Act and requires the Department of Labor to provide training to employers to help eliminate pay disparities.
I applaud President Obama's announcement that he will convene a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that the Federal Government is coordinated in its response to the challenges facing women and girls in our country. As we commemorate Women's History Month, we must continue to honor the tremendous contributions women have made, and renew our commitment to advancing the rights of women everywhere.
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