PRINTER'S NO. 1483
No. 262 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY WAGNER, BENNINGTON, BEYER, BISHOP, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GABIG, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HARHART, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, W. KELLER, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, McILHATTAN, MILLARD, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PHILLIPS, RAMALEY, RAPP, READSHAW, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, SURRA, R. TAYLOR, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WOJNAROSKI, BELFANTI AND BOYD, MAY 4, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 4, 2007
A RESOLUTION 1 Designating May 18, 2007, as "Women in Transportation Day" in 2 Pennsylvania in recognition of the contributions of women in 3 the transportation industry. 4 WHEREAS, In 1859 Martha J. Coston developed a maritime 5 navigation system using pyrotechnics to assist the United States 6 Navy and the navies of many European countries in communicating 7 with and rescuing shipwreck victims; and 8 WHEREAS, In 1870 Eliza Murfey patented 16 devices for 9 improving the packing of journals and bearings for railroad-car 10 axles; and 11 WHEREAS, In 1879 Mary Walton developed a method of deflecting 12 smokestack emissions through water tanks and later adapted the 13 system for use on locomotives; and 14 WHEREAS, Several women made important contributions to
1 improving rail safety and reducing noise pollution from trains: 2 Mary I. Riggin invented the railway crossing gate, Mary Walton 3 invented a noise reduction system for elevated railroads in New 4 York City and Catherine L. Gibbon developed several patents for 5 the construction of railway tracks; and 6 WHEREAS, Harriet Tubman contributed to the freedom of more 7 than 300 slaves in the mid-1800s through her contributions to 8 the Underground Railroad; and 9 WHEREAS, In 1903 Mary Anderson invented a windshield wiper to 10 improve safety while driving in rain, sleet and snow; and 11 WHEREAS, By 1923 more than 175 patents were granted to women 12 for inventions related to automobiles, traffic signals and turn 13 indicators; and 14 WHEREAS, In 1911 Harriet Quimby became the first woman pilot; 15 and 16 WHEREAS, In 1921 Bessie Coleman became the first African- 17 American woman pilot; and 18 WHEREAS, The most famous early woman aviator was Amelia 19 Earhart, who piloted across the Atlantic in 1932; and 20 WHEREAS, The role of women in transportation and the United 21 States labor force would change forever during World War II with 22 Rosie the Riveter becoming the symbol of women defense workers; 23 and 24 WHEREAS, By the late 1970s and early 1980s, women were taking 25 greater leadership roles in transportation; and 26 WHEREAS, In 1983 Elizabeth Dole was appointed Secretary of 27 Transportation; and 28 WHEREAS, In 1983 Carmen Turner became the General Manager of 29 the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; and 30 WHEREAS, In 1983 Astronaut Sally Ride became the first 20070H0262R1483 - 2 -
1 American woman in space; and 2 WHEREAS, In 1996 Astronaut Shannon Lucid set the United 3 States record for continuous time in space; and 4 WHEREAS, The National Association of Railway Business Women 5 (NARBW) began in 1921 to stimulate interest in the railroad 6 industry, foster cooperation and better understanding within the 7 industry and its affiliates, create good public relations for 8 the railroad industry and undertake charitable and benevolent 9 projects; and 10 WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania there are three NARBW chapters: 11 Altoona, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia; and 12 WHEREAS, "National Transportation Week" is May 13 through 19, 13 2007; therefore be it 14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May 18, 15 2007, as "Women in Transportation Day" in Pennsylvania in 16 recognition of the contributions of women in the transportation 17 industry; and be it further 18 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 19 the Pittsburgh chapter of NARBW, 112 Washington Place - 9H, 20 Pittsburgh, PA 15219. D24L82BIL/20070H0262R1483 - 3 -