WHEREAS, women of all walks of life, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds have made considerable contributions throughout history, impacting young people of today; and
WHEREAS, women and girls around the world have fundamental human rights, play a critical role in providing and caring for their families and driving positive change in their communities, and contribute substantially to food security, economic growth, the prevention and resolution of conflict, and the sustainability of peace and stability; and
WHEREAS, women have taken on an important role as caregivers, teachers, nurses, and more during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, throughout centuries suffragists, activists and everyday women have had to continually fight for equal treatment and basic rights under the law; and
WHEREAS, exceptional national and state leaders, such as Susan B. Anthony, Florence Bayard Hilles, Annie Jump Cannon, Emily Bissell, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Mabel Vernon, Margaret Irving Handy, Stephanie Kwolek, U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, Mabel Lloyd Ridgely, Pauline A. Young, Margaret Rose Henry and Mary Ann Sorden Stuart have paved the way for progress and change; and
WHEREAS, recognizing women and their accomplishments presents the opportunity to celebrate their contributions to society and the greater good, as well as acknowledge the struggles and barriers they have had overcome to lay the foundation for future generations; and
WHEREAS, in 1975, the United Nations General Assembly began celebrating March 8th as International Women’s Day; and
WHEREAS, in this spirit, we acknowledge the trailblazing women that are Representatives of the 151
st
General Assembly, Representatives Stephanie T. Bolden, Ruth Briggs King, Sherry Dorsey Walker, Kendra Johnson, Sherae’a Moore, Debra Heffernan, Krista Griffith, Valerie Longhurst, Melissa Minor-Brown, Kimberly Williams, Madinah Wilson-Anton, and Andria Bennett; and
WHEREAS, we also acknowledge the trailblazing women that are Senators of the 151
st
General Assembly, Senators Sarah McBride, Elizabeth Lockman, Laura Sturgeon, Kyle Evans Gay, Stephanie Hansen, Nicole Poore, and Marie Pinkney; and
WHEREAS, the women of the 151
st
General Assembly have created the bipartisan Delaware Legislative Women’s Caucus, which exists to discuss and advocate for politics that will make the state a better place for women to live, work, and raise a family; and
WHEREAS, we remember the recently passed Governor Ruth Ann Minner, the first women elected Governor in our state, and her efforts in promoting clear air, protecting our State open spaces, prioritizing effort for full day Kindergarten; and
WHEREAS, we recognize the trailblazing women of our Delaware restaurants, who are guests in the General Assembly today, and their hard work and dedication to the industry and their communities; and
WHEREAS, restaurants, like the ones owned and managed by today’s guests, provide opportunities to women of all ages and at all stages of their careers, from students to retirees, and from servers to owners; and
WHEREAS, more than half the restaurants nationwide have women as full owners, or co-owners, with women as about 45% of restaurant managers.
NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 151
st
General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that March 8th, 2022, is International Women’s Day in Delaware and that all Delawareans are urged to commemorate and celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout our state and nation.
