LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 90th Anniversary of women's
right to vote in the United States on August 26, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to acknowledge and
celebrate individuals and events of historic significance which add
inspiration and understanding to the diversity and value of this great
Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Being mindful to such concerns, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commemorate the 90th Anniversary of women's right to vote in the United
States on August 26, 2010; and
WHEREAS, On Women's Equality Day, August 26th, the hard work and
perseverance of those who helped secure women's suffrage in the United
States is recognized; and
WHEREAS, With the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitu-
tion in 1920, American women gained one of the most cherished rights and
fundamental responsibilities of citizenship: the right to vote; and
WHEREAS, The struggle for women's suffrage in America dates back to
the founding of our country; the movement began in earnest at the Seneca
Falls Convention in 1848, when women drafted a Declaration of Sentiments
proclaiming they had the same rights as men; and
WHEREAS, In 1916, Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first Ameri-
can woman elected to the United States House of Representatives, despite
the fact that her fellow women would not be able to vote nationally for
four more years; these women and many more like them worked to ensure
that future generations of women could realize the promise of America;
and
WHEREAS, Today, American women are leaders in business, government,
law, science, medicine, the arts, education, and many other fields;
women-owned businesses account for nearly half of all privately held
firms and are opening at twice the rate of male-owned businesses; and
WHEREAS, Through vision, determination, and a strong work ethic,
remarkable American women have broadened opportunities for themselves
and women around the world; and
WHEREAS, The full participation of women and the protection of their
rights as citizens are essential for freedom and democracy to flourish;
in Afghanistan, women helped draft their country's new constitution in
January 2004, which guarantees free elections and full participation by
women; and
WHEREAS, These women are eager to exercise their rights and are regis-
tering to vote in great numbers; about 40 percent of those registered to
vote in the October Afghan Presidential elections are women; and
WHEREAS, In Iraq, women are members of the new interim Iraqi govern-
ment and the recently established National Council; they also partic-
ipated in drafting the Transitional Administrative Law, which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, or religion and
requires that 25 percent of the new legislature be women; in the face of
great challenges, Iraqi women are building a better nation for them-
selves and their families; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to celebrate the
extraordinary accomplishments of women in the State of New York, America
and throughout the world and renew our commitment to equality for all
women, both at home and abroad; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 90th Anniversary of women's right to vote in the United
States on August 26, 2010.