LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the members of the New York State Congres-
sional delegation to support the efforts of the National Women's History
Museum in securing a permanent home in Washington, DC for a museum that
will highlight the important role women have played in shaping this
great nation

WHEREAS, In 1987, the United States Congress declared March as "Women's
History Month" to acknowledge the important role women have played in
shaping America; and
WHEREAS, The First Women's Rights Convention was held in 1848 in the
Village of Seneca Falls, New York and marked the formal beginning of the
women's rights movement; and
WHEREAS, At the time of the convention, women were not allowed to
vote, hold elective office, attend college or earn a living; and
WHEREAS, Five women organized the convention: Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann M'Clintock and Jane Hunt; at the
convention, the Declaration of Sentiments was signed by 68 women and 32
men, and stated, "all men and women are created equal"; and
WHEREAS, These pioneers paved the way for famous New Yorkers Eleanor
Roosevelt, Shirley Chisholm and Sonia Sotomayor; and
WHEREAS, Although women constitute a majority of the nation's popu-
lation their achievements and contributions are underrepresented in
museums and memorials; and
WHEREAS, Only 1.0% of the people identified in a recent survey of 18
history textbooks were women; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, the President's Commission on the Celebration of
Women in American History called for a women's history museum to be
established on the National Mall in Washington, DC; and
WHEREAS, The National Women's History Museum (NWHM), founded in 1996,
is a non-partisan, non-profit, educational institution dedicated to
preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the diverse historic contrib-
utions of women, and integrating the heritage of women fully into this
nation's history; and
WHEREAS, NWHM seeks a site on or close to the National Mall and in
close proximity to the White House and U.S. Capitol Building; and
WHEREAS, NWHM has identified federally owned property for sale near
the National Mall; and
WHEREAS, Legislation is currently pending in Congress seeking authori-
zation for the NWHM to be able to purchase this property at fair market
value with privately raised funds and no federal funds are being
requested for the purchase of this land; and
WHEREAS, There are museums dedicated to flight, postage stamps, build-
ings and many other important people and issues of interest but not to
women, and yet women comprise 51% of the nation's population; and
WHEREAS, NWHM will showcase the full history of women in the United
States and the contributions they have made and continue to make in the
marketplace, arts and sciences, government, entertainment, education,
home, and community; and
WHEREAS, A Coalition of 43 women's organizations representing eight
million women, which includes the National Foundation for Women Legisla-
tors (NFWL), supports the efforts of the NWHM to establish a permanent
residence near the National Mall, the most prominent location for muse-
ums to be situated in the nation's capital; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to support
the efforts of the National Women's History Museum in securing a perma-
nent home in Washington, DC for a museum that will highlight the impor-

tant role women have played in shaping this great nation; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.