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JOINT RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WOMEN MAKE TO MAINE AND TO THE UNITED STATES
WHEREAS, American women of every race, class and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways, especially in the areas of political and social change; and
WHEREAS,  the United States boasts a rich history of women whose vast and courageous achievements speak to the sense of excellence and potential shared by all Americans; and
WHEREAS,  our country would not have attained its greatness without the strength, bravery, insight and persistence of the women who have come before us; and
WHEREAS,  American women have played, and continue to play, critical economic, cultural, political and social roles in every sphere of the life of the nation by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home and in professions from educator to astronaut, yet make up less than 4 percent of the executives in charge of Fortune 500 companies each year; and
WHEREAS,  women have played a major role in the defense of our nation, both on and off the battlefield; and
WHEREAS,  American women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity but also in the abolitionist movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement and other movements that create a more fair and just society for all; and
WHEREAS,  women not only have played critical economic, cultural and social roles in our society but also have permanently changed the face of American government and politics; and
WHEREAS,  Maine has a rich and vibrant history of women in leadership, including Senator Margaret Chase Smith, perhaps best known for her contribution to the well-being of the United States and its people with her consistent stand for the condemnation of bigotry and injustice wherever she found them; and
WHEREAS,  Senator Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman from Maine to serve in the United States Congress, the first woman in the nation elected to both houses of the United States Congress and the first woman to be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party's convention; and
WHEREAS,  Maine currently has some of the strongest women leaders in the nation, including Senator Susan Collins, the first woman to run for Maine Governor from a major party, and the recently retired Senator Olympia J. Snowe, the first woman to serve in both chambers of a state legislature and both chambers of the United States Congress; and
WHEREAS,  the Maine Legislature has a distinguished record of women elected to leadership positions, including the Honorable Beverly Daggett, the first female President of the Senate, the Honorable Betheda Edmonds, the first woman to serve 2 terms as President of the Senate and the Honorable Elizabeth Mitchell, the first woman in the United States to have been chosen in a state legislature as both Speaker of the House and President of the Senate; and
WHEREAS,  among the many women who have served in the Maine Legislature are the Honorable Hannah Pingree, the youngest woman to hold the position of Speaker of the House, and the many women who have served as Senate floor leaders, including the Honorable Jane A. Amero, the Honorable Pamela Cahill, the Honorable Nancy Randall Clark, the Honorable Chellie Pingree, the Honorable Sharon Treat, the Honorable Mary Small and the Honorable Carol Weston, and who have served as House floor leaders, including the Honorable Lucia M. Cormier, the Honorable Emily Cain, the Honorable Carol A. Kontos and the Honorable Mary Clark Webster; and
WHEREAS,  women who have served as assistant leaders in the Maine Legislature include the Honorable Minnette Cummings, the Honorable Barbara A. Gill, the Honorable Beverly Miner Bustin, the Honorable Anne Rand, the Honorable Lisa Marrache, the Honorable Debra Plowman, the Honorable Elizabeth D. Moffatt, the Honorable Mary Najarian and the Honorable Teresea Hayes; and
WHEREAS,  within our state judicial system, Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley is the first woman to serve as Maine's Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court; and
WHEREAS,  the Honorable Janet T. Mills is the first woman to have served as Maine's Attorney General, as well as being a former District Attorney and Legislator; the Honorable Dale McCormick is the first woman to serve as Treasurer of State, as well as being a former Legislator; the Honorable Gail Chase is the first woman to serve as State Auditor, as well as being a former Legislator; Pola Buckley is the current State Auditor; and the Honorable Neria Douglass is the Treasurer of State as well as being a former Legislator and State Auditor; and
WHEREAS,  we must take every action possible to promote women in leadership so that we can achieve fair representation in our State Government, including recognizing Maine women's contributions to our state history; and
WHEREAS,  in recognition of the contributions of women, the United States Congress has passed a resolution each year since 1987 designating the month of March as "Women's History Month"; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Legislature now assembled in the First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to recognize March 2013 as Women's History Month in Maine; and be it further
RESOLVED: That We encourage the residents of this State to observe Women's History Month by participating in programs, ceremonies and activities to foster an awareness of and appreciation for the contributions made by women that have benefited and improved society.