Senate Passes Bipartisan Collins, Baldwin Resolution Designating August as National Women’s Suffrage Month
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and cosponsored by all of their female colleagues, that designates August 2020 as “National Women’s Suffrage Month” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Following passage by the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, the 19th Amendment was ratified by three-fourths of the states on August 18, 1920. The Amendment was added to the Constitution on August 26, 1920, finally giving women the right to vote.
“Women across the country made countless sacrifices and worked tirelessly to ratify the 19th Amendment,” said Senator Collins. “Though there is more work to be done, this resolution recognizes the brave women who fought for equal voting rights and commemorates this moment for generations to come.”
“Our bipartisan resolution designating August 2020 as National Women’s Suffrage Month recognizes and honors the struggle to extend to women the most fundamental right in our democracy – the right to vote. As our nation comes together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, let us remember that the hard work for women’s suffrage was done by women of all backgrounds, including women of color who fought and marched alongside their white colleagues in the suffrage movement, but whose contributions went largely unsung, and many of whom were still denied the right to vote after the 19th Amendment was ratified,” said Senator Baldwin, “This year, as America celebrates this monumental Centennial and all the progress that women have made in the last 100 years, let us also recognize that we have more glass ceilings to break, and more work to do to make sure that the voting rights that have been won for all, are protected.”
The resolution reads, “Resolved, that the Senate designates August 2020 as ‘National Women’s Suffrage Month;’ honors the role of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in further promoting the core values of the democracy of the United States, as promised by the Constitution of the United States; reaffirms the opportunity for people in the United States to learn about and commemorate the efforts of the women’s suffrage movement and the role of women in our democracy; and reaffirms the desire of Congress to continue strengthening democratic participation and to inspire future generations to cherish and preserve the historic precedent established under the 19th Amendment.”
The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
Last year, Senators Collins and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), led a bipartisan tribute with Senator Baldwin commemorating the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment by the U.S. Senate. The Senate also passed the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, legislation that would authorize the Treasury Department to mint coins in honor of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Additionally, Senators Collins and Feinstein led a letter signed by all of their female colleagues, including Senator Baldwin, to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee urging them to create a Women’s Suffrage Stamp featuring a yellow rose.
Click HERE to read the full resolution.
###
