Senate Concurrent Resolution 639

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING MARCH 2010 AS "WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN MISSISSIPPI" AND RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY PROJECT.

WHEREAS, March 2010 is National Women's History Month; and

WHEREAS, in National Women's History Month, we honor all women who have touched this nation's history and our own personal history, women who contribute to the people and ideals of this great country; and

WHEREAS, American women have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role 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. American women have played a unique role throughout the history of the nation by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force of the nation. American women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic and cultural institutions in our nation; and

WHEREAS, 2010 will be the 30th Anniversary of the National Women's History Project. President Carter issued a Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980 as the first National Women's History Week, and then, in 1987, Congress expanded the week into a month, and March is now National Women's History Month. The theme for 2010 and the 30th Anniversary celebration is Writing Women Back into History. It often seems that the history of women is written in invisible ink. Even when recognized in their own times, women are frequently left out of the history books. To honor the 2010 theme, these are the themes from previous years. Each of these past themes recognizes a different aspect of women's achievements, from ecology to art, and from sports to politics: 2009 Women Taking the Lead to Save the Planet; 2008 Women's Art - Women's Vision; 2007 Generations of Women Moving Forward; 2006 Women Builders of Communities and Dreams; 2005 Women Change America; and 2003 Women Pioneering the Future; and

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. Women's history becomes a story of inspiration and hope, a story of courage and tenacity, a story of possibility and purpose. Women's history is our nation's story. It is the story of how women built communities and inspired and nurtured dreams and how they will continue to do so; and

WHEREAS, to emphasize the role of women in our state, the Legislature in 2001 established the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women to advise and consult with the Legislature and the executive branch on policies affecting the political status and other concerns of women in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, despite these contributions, the role of American women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued, in the literature, and teaching and study of American history; and it is with great pride that we recognize women who serve as role models in pioneering Mississippi's future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate March 2010 as "Women's History Month in Mississippi" and recognize the honorees of the National Women's History Project who represent the theme of the contemporary environmental movement.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women to observe appropriate programs, ceremonies, activities and a copy be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.