THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ORIE, PILEGGI, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BAKER, BOSCOLA, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, COSTA, DINNIMAN, EARLL, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FERLO, FOLMER, FONTANA, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KASUNIC, KITCHEN, LEACH, LOGAN, McILHINNEY, MELLOW, MENSCH, MUSTO, O'PAKE, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, ROBBINS, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, VOGEL, WASHINGTON, WAUGH, D. WHITE, M. WHITE, WOZNIAK AND YAW, MARCH 10, 2010

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 10, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing March 2010 as "Women's History Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Women of every race, class and ethnic background

have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of

this nation in countless ways; and

WHEREAS, Women have played and continue to play a critical

economic, cultural and social role in every sphere of the life

of this nation by constituting a significant portion of the

labor force working inside and outside of the home; and

WHEREAS, Women have played a unique role throughout the

history of this nation by providing the majority of the

volunteer labor force; and

WHEREAS, Women were particularly important in the

establishment of early charitable, philanthropic and cultural

institutions in this nation; and

WHEREAS, Women of every race, class and ethnic background

served as early leaders in the forefront of every major

progressive social change movement; and

WHEREAS, Women have been leaders, not only in securing the

rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the

abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial

labor movement and the civil rights movement, all of which

created a more fair and just society for all; and

WHEREAS, Lisa J. Baker, Lisa M. Boscola, Jane M. Earll,

Shirley M. Kitchen, Jane Clare Orie, Christine M. Tartaglione,

Patricia H. Vance, Kim L. Ward, LeAnna Washington and Mary Jo

White have earned recognition for public service as members of

the Senate of this Commonwealth, comprising 20% of its

membership; and

WHEREAS, Karen Beyer, Louise Williams Bishop, Karen Boback,

Michele Brooks, Vanessa Lowery Brown, Sheryl M. Delozier, Mauree

Gingrich, Julie Harhart, Kate Harper, Susan C. Helm, Babette

Josephs, Deberah Kula, Sandra Major, Kathy Manderino, Jennifer

Mann, Barbara McIlvaine Smith, Phyllis Mundy, Donna Oberlander,

Cherelle L. Parker, Tina Pickett, Marguerite Quinn, Kathy L.

Rapp, RoseMarie Swanger, Katie True, Chelsa Wagner, Katharine M.

Watson and Rosita C. Youngblood have earned recognition for

public service as members of the House of Representatives

comprising 13% of its membership; and

WHEREAS, General Counsel, Barbara Adams; Acting Secretary of

Public Welfare, Harriet Dichter; Secretary of the Budget, Mary

Soderberg; Secretary of Labor and Industry, Sandi Vito; Adjutant

General, Major General Jessica L. Wright; Secretary of

Administration, Naomi Wyatt; Secretary of Legislative Affairs,

Colleen Kopp; Secretary of Planning and Policy, Donna Cooper;

Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin; Supreme Court Justice

Debra Todd; President Judge of the Superior Court, Kate Ford

Elliott; Superior Court Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen; Superior Court

Judge, Mary Jane Bowes; Superior Court Judge Christine L.

Donohue; Superior Court Judge Susan Peikes Gantman; Superior

Court Judge Anne E. Lazarus; Superior Court Judge Sallie Updyke

Mundy; Superior Court Judge Judith Ference Olson; Superior Court

Judge Paula Francisco Ott; and Superior Court Judge Jacqueline

O. Shogan; President Judge of the Commonwealth Court, Bonnie

Brigance Leadbetter, Commonwealth Court Judge Rochelle S.

Friedman; Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer;

Commonwealth Court Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt; and Commonwealth

Judge Patricia A. McCullough are all women who hold prominent

positions in State government; and

WHEREAS, Despite these contributions, the role of women in

history has often been overlooked and undervalued in the

literature, teaching and study of American history; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, and each successive year thereafter, the

Congress of the United States has declared March as "National

Women's History Month"; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize March 2010 as "Women's

History Month" in Pennsylvania.