LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim March 2009 as Women's History Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, March is Women's History Month; and
WHEREAS, March 8th is International Women's Day; and
WHEREAS, Each year, New York State officially sets aside time to
recognize the unique and varied contributions that women have made to
New York and its society; and
WHEREAS, New York has been the home of many extraordinary women who
have led society to a better future; and
WHEREAS, New York women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
and Matilda Joslyn Gage were instrumental in leading the struggle for
suffrage; and
WHEREAS, In 1895, Carrie Clyde Holly (originally from New York City)
and Clara Dressingham (from Brooklyn) were among two of the first three
women elected to any state legislature in the nation, joining Frances
Klock (from Massachusetts) in the Colorado legislature; and
WHEREAS, In 1918, one year after New York guaranteed women the right
to vote in all elections, the first two women, Ida Sammis and Mary
Lilly, were elected to the New York State Legislature; and
WHEREAS, Rhoda Fox Graves became the first woman to be elected to both
houses of New York State government, elected to the Assembly in 1924,
for several terms, and elected to the Senate in 1934, for 14 years; and
WHEREAS, Rhoda Jacobs is the longest-serving woman in the New York
State Legislature (1979-present) and Earlene Hooper is the highest rank-
ing woman in the Assembly; as Deputy Speaker she holds the highest lead-
ership post ever held by a woman in the Assembly; and Ruth Hassell-
Thompson is the highest ranking woman in the Senate, as Chair of the
Majority Conference; and
WHEREAS, Since 1983, New York women legislators have worked through
the bipartisan Legislative Women's Caucus to improve the representation
and participation of women in all areas of government, support issues
that affect women and families in New York State, and provide a network
of support for the women in the state legislature; and
WHEREAS, Today, 52 women serve in the New York State Legislature,
holding leadership positions in both houses and bringing the diverse
experiences of women into law and public policy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim March 2009 as Women's
History Month in the State of New York, and to honor the Women of New
York State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York, and to the Legislative Women's Caucus of New York State.