R 213 |
2019 -- H 5981 Enacted 04/10/2019 |
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 |
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 shaping public policy in |
myriad ways to reform government and create a more just and equitable society; and |
WHEREAS, Carrie Chapman Catt, the President of the National Woman Suffrage |
Association, proposed the National League of Women Voters as a department of the National |
Suffrage Association at its convention in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 19, 1919, a year before |
the 19th Amendment was passed; and |
WHEREAS, A state charter was secured for the League of Women Voters of the Rhode |
Island State Division by the Rhode Island Equal Suffrage Association on April 1, 1919; and |
WHEREAS, Ms. Chapman campaigned tirelessly, across the United States, for passage |
of the 19th Amendment and was successful when it was finally passed in 1920. Another key |
reason Ms. Chapman founded The League of Women Voters was the hope that by motivating the |
twenty million American women who could now vote, they would use their new right 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 also played a leading role at critical junctures in American history including, President |
Truman inviting the League to serve as a consultant to the United States delegation at the United |
Nations Charter Conference in 1945. In the 1960s, 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, For 100 years the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and the League |
of Women Voters of Providence have collaborated with other organizations to increase civic |
participation and fight for important reforms such as fair elections, open government, campaign |
finance reform, education and environmental protection. It is fitting 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 House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
Providence Plantations hereby joyously celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the |
League of Women Voters of Rhode Island on April 10, 2019; 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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LC002235 |
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