PRINTER'S NO. 3648
No. 721 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY WAGNER, BENNINGTON, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRENNAN,
CALTAGIRONE, CONKLIN, DALEY, DONATUCCI, FLECK, FRANKEL,
GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHART,
HERSHEY, JAMES, KULA, MAHONEY, MANN, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, McCALL,
McILVAINE SMITH, MENSCH, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO,
M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT,
RAMALEY, READSHAW, SAINATO, SANTONI, K. SMITH, STABACK,
SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI AND
YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 2, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 2, 2008
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating May 16, 2008, 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
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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 11 through 17,
13 2008; therefore be it
14 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May 16,
15 2008, 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.
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