Proclaiming March of 2026, to Be "Women's History Month" in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, The year 2026 marks the th annual celebration of National Women's History Month; and

WHEREAS, During March 6-12 of 1978, the very first unofficial "National Women's History Week" was celebrated in Santa Rosa, California, by the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women's Education Task Force, including International Women's Day on March th; and

WHEREAS, On July 14-29, 1979, Nancy Rose Foye-Cox, now of Richmond, Rhode Island, and Deborah N. Pearlman, Ph.D, now of Providence, were two of 52 participants in the "Summer Institute in Women's History" at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, representing 37 national women's organizations, who called for the first ever National Women's History Week in 1980, and all participants were also National Women's Month national co- founders in 1987; and

WHEREAS, On February 28, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the very first "National Women's History Week" Proclamation for the Week of March 2-8, 1980; and

WHEREAS, On March 12, 1987, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed a Joint Resolution, designating the first official "Women's History Month"; and

WHEREAS, On March 16, 1987, President Ronald Reagan signed and issued the very first Presidential Proclamation designating March as "Women's History Month"; and

WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our State and Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways; and

WHEREAS, Women have played and continue to play critical economic, cultural, and social roles in every sphere of life in Rhode Island by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home; and

WHEREAS, Women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our State; and

WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major social change movement and have served our country courageously in all branches of the military and public safety; and

WHEREAS, Women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and especially the peace movement, which creates a fairer and just society for all; and

WHEREAS, Despite these contributions, the role of women has been consistently overlooked and undervalued, in the literature, culture, and the study of American history; and

WHEREAS, The National Women's History Month theme for 2026 is "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future." The National Women's History Alliance

(NWHA) chose this theme to celebrate the diverse contributions of women who are leading sustainability efforts across environmental, economic, educational, and social justice movements; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims March of 2026, to be "Women's History Month" in recognition of the myriad contributions of women throughout our history; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable President of the United States, Donald Trump, the Honorable Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Daniel McKee, and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.