2019 -- S 0745

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LC002357

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING THE FORTHCOMING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IN 2020

     Introduced By: Senators Euer, Goldin, Coyne, Cano, and Murray

     Date Introduced: April 03, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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

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

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

     WHEREAS, The League of Women voters was founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt

who was a prominent women's suffrage leader and advocate who campaigned tirelessly for

passage of the nineteenth amendment to guarantee women in the United States the right to vote.

The League was founded in the hope of encouraging the twenty million American women who

could now vote to use their new power in ways that would influence and shape public policy and

the elected officials making these decisions; and

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

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

has played a leading role at critical junctures in American history. President Truman invited the

League to serve as a consultant to the United States delegation at the United Nations Charter

Conference in 1945. In the 1960's League membership peaked at 157,000 members. In support of

the Civil Rights movement, the League supported equal access to education and employment; and

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

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

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

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

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

license; and

     WHEREAS, As the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters

approaches in 2020, it is time to honor and recognize the League's numerous accomplishments

and thank them for their advocacy on behalf of the rights of women, minorities, and other

historically disadvantaged groups; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby joyously celebrates the forthcoming 100th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters in

2020; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Ms. Virginia Kase, Chief Executive Officer,

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

Voters.

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