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<April 3 , 2006>
Bordallo Celebrates Women’s History Month FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—April 3, 2006—Washington, D.C.— Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo celebrated Women’s History Month last week on Capitol Hill, memorializing Alice Stokes Paul, a notable feminist, suffragist and political strategist of the 19th century. “We all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Alice Paul. She was a true pioneer in the fight for equality of the sexes. The opportunities that have been afforded to me and women everywhere resulted from her progressive ideas and dedication to her cause,” Bordallo stated. Born on January 11, 1885, Alice Paul dedicated her life to the cause of securing equal rights for women. Paul was part of the frontier movement of suffragists responsible for enacting the 19th Amendment, giving all American women the right to vote for their leaders and become actively involved in the democratic process. Her work continued with the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Under this amendment, Paul believed that “Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction.” The (ERA) was introduced in every session of Congress from 1923 until it passed in 1972. During the 1940s, both the Republicans and Democrats added the ERA to their party platforms. In 1943, the ERA was rewritten and dubbed the “Alice Paul Amendment.” The new amendment read, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Paul went on to earn three law degrees. In 1938, she began the World Woman’s Party (WWP), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WWP worked closely with the League of Nations for the inclusion of gender equality into the United Nations Charter and the establishment of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. As part of the celebration in Washington, D.C., Bordallo attended a reception hosted by Congressman Joe Baca (CA). August 26th is now celebrated as Women’s Equality Day in the United States. ### Contact: Alicia Chon in |
