IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 807 

Honoring Bella Savitsky Abzug of New York, New York, for leading the 

way in creating a feminist presence in Congress. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 23, 2018 

Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California (for herself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. HASTINGS, 

Mr. RASKIN, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. JOHNSON

of Georgia, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. NADLER, 

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. COHEN, and Mr. TAKANO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

House Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring Bella Savitsky Abzug of New York, New York, 

for leading the way in creating a feminist presence in 

Congress. 

Whereas Bella Savitsky Abzug was born in New York City 

on July 24, 1920, and passed away on March 31, 1998; 

Whereas Bella Abzug was elected to represent New York’s 

19th Congressional District in the House of Representatives in 1970 and became one of only 13 women serving 

in the House during the 92d Congress; 

Whereas Bella Abzug served three terms in the House of 

Representatives from 1971 to 1977, where she was a 


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•HRES 807 IH 

member of the Committee on Government Operations 

and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation; 

Whereas Bella Abzug introduced a joint resolution, H.J. Res. 

52, to designate August 26 as Women’s Equality Day, 

which was signed into law on August 16, 1973, by President Richard Nixon; 

Whereas, in 1975, Bella Abzug introduced legislation, H.R. 

9924, to organize and convene a National Women’s Conference, which was signed into law by President Gerald 

Ford on December 23, 1975; 

Whereas Congresswoman Bella Abzug chaired the historic 

1977 National Women’s Conference, which was attended 

by 2,000 delegates, who established a National Plan of 

Action to address the concerns of American women and 

presented the plan to President Jimmy Carter and the 

Congress in 1977; 

Whereas Bella Abzug introduced the first legislation, H.R. 

15692, the Equality Act, to prohibit discrimination on 

account of sex, marital status, or sexual orientation; 

Whereas Bella Abzug cosponsored landmark legislation to 

guarantee equal rights for all American citizens regardless of gender, H.J. Res. 208, the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, which was passed by Congress, 

received the endorsement of President Richard Nixon, 

and was ratified by 22 States in the first year following 

its passage; 

Whereas, in July 1971, Bella Abzug cofounded the National 

Women’s Political Caucus, an organization dedicated to 

increasing women’s participation in politics and public 

service; 


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Whereas Bella Abzug, in opposition to nuclear testing, cofounded the Women Strike for Peace organization and 

played an integral role in organizing the Women Strike 

for Peace on November 1, 1961, which was the largest 

women’s peace protest in the 20th century; 

Whereas, in 1978, President Jimmy Carter appointed Congresswoman Bella Abzug as Chair of the National Advisory Committee for Women, which advised the President 

on initiatives needed to promote full equality for American women; 

Whereas, in 1991, Bella Abzug established the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), 

which remains one of the most prominent international 

women’s rights advocacy organizations; 

Whereas New York Mayor David Dinkins appointed Bella 

Abzug to chair the New York City Commission on the 

Status of Women, which served as an advisory body to 

improve the lives of women in New York City, which she 

led from 1993 to 1995; and 

Whereas, in 1995, while battling cancer, Bella Abzug traveled 

to Beijing, China, to deliver a plenary address during the 

United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, advocating for women’s equality, empowerment, and justice: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes and honors the achievements of 

3 Bella Savitsky Abzug as a feminist and civil rights 

4 leader; 


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1 (2) commends the courage, hard work, commit2 ment, and dedication of Bella Abzug for fighting for 

3 the rights of women; and 

4 (3) honors the achievements of all American 

5 women who have overcome adversity to play a con6 tributing role in society. 

Æ 


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