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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 807 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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 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;
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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and honors the achievements of Bella 
        Savitsky Abzug as a feminist and civil rights leader;
            (2) commends the courage, hard work, commitment, and 
        dedication of Bella Abzug for fighting for the rights of women; 
        and
            (3) honors the achievements of all American women who have 
        overcome adversity to play a contributing role in society.
                                 <all>
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