2019 -- H 5981

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LC002235

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING APRIL 10, 2019, TO BE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF "THE LEAGUE

OF WOMEN VOTERS OF RHODE ISLAND"

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Ruggiero, Corvese, Speakman, and Donovan

     Date Introduced: April 10, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that has, over

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its distinguished past, played a critical role in fostering civil debate and shaping public policy in

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myriad ways to reform government and create a more just and equitable society; and

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     WHEREAS, Carrie Chapman Catt, the President of the National Woman Suffrage

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Association, proposed the National League of Women Voters as a department of the National

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Suffrage Association at its convention in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 19, 1919, a year before

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the 19th Amendment was passed; and

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     WHEREAS, A state charter was secured for the League of Women Voters of the Rhode

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Island State Division by the Rhode Island Equal Suffrage Association on April 1, 1919; and

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     WHEREAS, Ms. Chapman campaigned tirelessly, across the United States, for passage

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of the 19th Amendment and was successful when it was finally passed in 1920. Another key

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reason Ms. Chapman founded The League of Women Voters was the hope that by motivating the

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twenty million American women who could now vote, they would use their new right in ways

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that would influence and shape public policy and the elected officials making these decisions; and

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     WHEREAS, Through the years, the League has sponsored numerous “Get Out The Vote”

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campaigns, and sponsored and hosted Presidential debates in 1976, 1980, and 1984. The League

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has also played a leading role at critical junctures in American history including, President

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Truman inviting the League to serve as a consultant to the United States delegation at the United

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Nations Charter Conference in 1945. In the 1960s, League membership peaked at 157,000

 

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members. In support of the Civil Rights movement, the League supported equal access to

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education and employment; and

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     WHEREAS, More recently, the League of Women Voters has strongly advocated in

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support of protecting our environment, health care rights and access, and the protection of our

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voting rights in addition to supporting legislation to make it easier to register, such as the

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National Registration Act of 1993, commonly known as the “Motor-Voter Act” which required

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states to offer the opportunity to register to vote to anyone who applies for, or renews a driver’s

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license; and

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     WHEREAS, For 100 years the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and the League

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of Women Voters of Providence have collaborated with other organizations to increase civic

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participation and fight for important reforms such as fair elections, open government, campaign

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finance reform, education and environmental protection. It is fitting to honor and recognize the

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League’s numerous accomplishments and thank them for their advocacy on behalf of the rights’

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of women, minorities, and other historically disadvantaged groups; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby joyously celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the

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League of Women Voters of Rhode Island on April 10, 2019; 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 Ms. Virginia Kase, Chief Executive Officer,

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League of Women Voters, and Ms. Jane Koster, President of the Rhode Island League of Women

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Voters.

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