Post by bot on Aug 26, 2014 16:38:49 GMT -5
Hoyer Statement on Women's Equality Day
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on Women’s Equality Day, which is observed on the anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment:
“Ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which took place ninety-four years ago today and recognized women’s right to vote, represented the culmination of a decades-long struggle for equal suffrage. That effort was successful because countless women across the country marched, spoke out, defied convention, and raised awareness of the deficiencies of a democracy that excludes half its citizens. The cause of equal suffrage drew its strength from the millions of ordinary American women who, together, formed one of the greatest grassroots movements in history.
“Today, women’s voices continue to enhance our democracy, and I am proud to serve along so many extraordinary women in Congress who serve as leaders on a range of critical issues facing all Americans. Women lead not only in the halls of government but in corporate boardrooms, in athletics, in our Armed Forces, in the arts and sciences, and in innovation – and our nation and the world are made stronger by it. The Nineteenth Amendment made possible a march of progress for women’s equality in our country that must continue unabated.
“As we mark this anniversary, let us rededicate ourselves to the task of ensuring that every American who is eligible to vote can access the ballot box and participate equally in our democracy. Let us also recommit ourselves to ensuring equal pay for equal work, access to affordable health care choices for all who seek them, and measures to strengthen protections against domestic abuse and violence. I will continue to fight for these causes and hope Congress will take action on these issues soon.”
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