Women's History Month

Floor Speech

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Ms. MALOY. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand here and celebrate the contributions of women this Women's History Month, both the women who are here today and those whose spirits live on through the impact they have created for past generations.

Our contributions as women are not a sidenote in the story of our world. They are central to it. We helped shape the world, and we are here to make sure that the women who came before us get credit for what they have done. Their influence is undeniable.

When we think of remarkable women, let us be reminded of women like Martha Hughes Cannon, a physician, suffragist, and pioneer who went on to become the first female State Senator in the United States.

We are a Nation of pioneers. Martha beautifully embodies that pioneering spirit. She immigrated to the United States, crossed the Great Plains, and helped settle Utah when it was a frontier State. She challenged societal expectations, standing alone in the fields of science and politics, to advocate for her convictions.

Her unwavering commitment to change helped establish women's right to vote and hold office in Utah, putting the State decades ahead of the national curve, and then helped reestablish the right to vote when the Nation caught up.

Her statue now fittingly stands in Emancipation Hall and represents Utah.

Let's also be reminded of women like Sally Ride who in 1983 became the first woman in space, defying conventional expectations set for women while creating opportunities for women to enter STEM fields.

Let us also be reminded of women like Clara Barton who founded the American Red Cross in 1881, modeling service and diplomacy in the presence of conflict. Her contributions were not without risk.

Let us be reminded of all the women who have yet to have their stories told, their achievements celebrated, and their voices heard. Their influence, whether truly recognized or not, will be felt, not only by their neighbors, but by future generations. Their contributions are important to the legacy of this Nation.

The importance of showcasing women's achievements, sharing our stories and teaching our history, cannot be overstated. Women's History Museum offers young girls the opportunity to see themselves in history as active agents of change. When we teach the history of women, we are teaching the history of humanity, and those stories are not simply for women, but for everyone. They are for everyone who shares the pioneering spirit that drives Americans to keep challenging limitations and working for freedom and opportunity.

When we recognize women, let us remember the challenges they have faced, the struggles we have endured, and the significance of our choice to persevere.

Progress is rarely easily won. Success is rarely freely given, but as history has illustrated time and time again, women have found ways to push forward and to pioneer better ways.

As we honor the women who come before us by remembering, I hope we will be grateful and humble to have inherited the progress of past generations. As Americans and visitors to our country visit the Nation's Capital and explore the museums, it seems fitting that they would have the opportunity to learn about the pioneering spirit of America and the stories of pioneering American women.

Ms. De La CRUZ.

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