Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 1.djvu/74

 100 STAT. 38

PUBLIC LAW 99-254—MAR. 4, 1986 Public Law 99-254 99th Congress Joint Resolution

March 4, 1986 [H.J. Res. 499]

Designating the week beginning March 2, 1986, as "Women's History Week".

Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historical contributions to the growth and strength of the Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways; Whereas American women have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of our Nation's life by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working in and outside of the home; Whereas American women have played a unique role throughout our history by providing the majority of the Nation's volunteer labor force and have been particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in this country; Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement, not only to secure their own right of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements to create a more fair and just society for all; and Whereas, despite these contributions, the role of American women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued in the body of American history: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the week beginning March 2, 1986, is designated as "Women's History Week", and the President is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Approved March 4, 1986.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 499: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 132 (1986): Feb. 6, considered and passed House. Feb. 27, considered and passed Senate.

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