HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2026, TO BE "WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2026, TO BE "WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH" IN THE STATE
OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Representatives Cotter, Carson, Spears, McGaw, Caldwell, Boylan,
Speakman, Chippendale, Shekarchi, and Blazejewski

Date Introduced:
March 03, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, The year 2026 marks the 39th annual celebration of National Women's
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History Month; and
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WHEREAS, During March 6-12 of 1978, the very first unofficial "National Women's
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History Week" was celebrated in Santa Rosa, California, by the Sonoma County Commission on
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the Status of Women's Education Task Force, including International Women's Day on March
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8th; and
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WHEREAS, On July 14-29, 1979, Nancy Rose Foye-Cox, now of Richmond, Rhode
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Island, and Deborah N. Pearlman, Ph.D, now of Providence, were two of 52 participants in the
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"Summer Institute in Women's History" at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York,
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representing 37 national women's organizations, who called for the first ever National Women's
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History Week in 1980, and all participants were also National Women's Month national co-
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founders in 1987; and
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WHEREAS, On February 28, 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the very first
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"National Women's History Week" Proclamation for the Week of March 2-8, 1980; and
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WHEREAS, On March 12, 1987, the United States Senate and House of Representatives
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passed a Joint Resolution, designating the first official "Women's History Month"; and
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WHEREAS, On March 16, 1987, President Ronald Reagan signed and issued the very
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first Presidential Proclamation designating March as "Women's History Month"; and
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WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic

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contributions to the growth and strength of our State and Nation in countless recorded and
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unrecorded ways; and
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WHEREAS, Women have played and continue to play critical economic, cultural, and
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social roles in every sphere of life in Rhode Island by constituting a significant portion of the
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labor force working inside and outside of the home; and
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WHEREAS, Women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable,
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philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our State; and
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WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders
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in the forefront of every major social change movement and have served our country
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courageously in all branches of the military and public safety; and
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WHEREAS, Women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage
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and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the
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industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and especially the peace movement, which
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creates a fairer and just society for all; and
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WHEREAS, Despite these contributions, the role of women has been consistently
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overlooked and undervalued, in the literature, culture, and the study of American history; and
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WHEREAS, The National Women's History Month theme for 2026 is "Leading the
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Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future." The National Women's History Alliance
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(NWHA) chose this theme to celebrate the diverse contributions of women who are leading
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sustainability efforts across environmental, economic, educational, and social justice movements;
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now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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proclaims March of 2026, to be "Women's History Month" in recognition of the myriad
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contributions of women throughout our history; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable President of the United States,
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Donald Trump, the Honorable Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Daniel McKee, and the
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Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.
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