III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 216 

Acknowledging the 25th anniversary of the nomination of Representative 

Geraldine A. Ferraro as the first woman selected by a major political 

party to run for the Office of the Vice President. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 16, 2009 

Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself and Ms. MIKULSKI) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Acknowledging the 25th anniversary of the nomination of 

Representative Geraldine A. Ferraro as the first woman 

selected by a major political party to run for the Office 

of the Vice President. 

Whereas, July 19, 2009, marks the 25th anniversary of the 

date Geraldine A. Ferraro accepted the nomination of the 

Democratic Party to run for the Office of the Vice President of the United States; 

Whereas Geraldine A. Ferraro graduated from Fordham University School of Law at a time when very few women attended law school; 

Whereas Geraldine A. Ferraro joined the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, where she supervised the prosecution of violent crimes including child and domestic abuse; 


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•SRES 216 IS 

Whereas in 1978, Geraldine A. Ferraro was elected to serve 

the Ninth Congressional District of New York in the 

United States House of Representatives, where she was 

1 of only 16 women; 

Whereas the colleagues of Geraldine A. Ferraro in the House 

of Representatives rewarded her legislative and political 

talents by electing her to serve as Secretary of the House 

Democratic Caucus, a key leadership position; 

Whereas in 1984, the leadership of Geraldine A. Ferraro was 

confirmed when she became the first woman to serve as 

Chairwoman of the Platform Committee for the Democratic National Convention; 

Whereas the legislative achievements of Geraldine A. Ferraro 

include sponsorship of the Women’s Economic Equity 

Act, landmark legislation to end pension discrimination 

and provide increased job training and opportunities for 

women re-entering the workforce; 

Whereas Geraldine A. Ferraro became the first woman to run 

for national office for either major political party when 

she was nominated as the running mate of Walter F. 

Mondale in the 1984 Presidential race; 

Whereas the nomination of Geraldine A. Ferraro also marked 

the first and only time an Italian-American has been 

nominated as a major-party candidate in a national election; 

Whereas the Vice Presidential candidacy of Geraldine A. Ferraro continued the progress begun by women who 

achieved political firsts before her, including— 

(1) Jeanette Rankin, the first woman elected to 

Congress; 


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•SRES 216 IS 

(2) Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman elected 

to the Senate; 

(3) Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first Asian-American 

woman elected to Congress; and 

(4) Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American 

woman elected to Congress; 

Whereas the candidacy of Geraldine A. Ferraro helped tear 

down barriers that had prevented women from fullly and 

equally participating in national politics; 

Whereas in 1984, 2 women served in the United States Senate, and 22 women served in the United States House of 

Representatives; 

Whereas in the 111th Congress, 17 women serve in the 

United States Senate, and 75 women serve in the United 

States House of Representatives, including Representative Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker 

of the House; 

Whereas in January 1993, President William Jefferson Clinton appointed Geraldine A. Ferraro to serve as United 

States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on 

Human Rights, a role she used to champion the rights 

of women around the world; 

Whereas in 2008, people of the United States watched historic barriers fall with a Presidential campaign that featured historic candidacies in both parties and culminated 

in the election of the first African-American President; 

and 

Whereas the Vice Presidential candidacy of Geraldine A. Ferraro helped daughters join sons in believing they can 

achieve anything: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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•SRES 216 IS 

1 (1) recognizes that the Vice Presidential can2 didacy of Geraldine A. Ferraro forever enriched the 

3 American political landscape and forged a new path 

4 for women of the United States; 

5 (2) congratulates Geraldine A. Ferraro on the 

6 25th anniversary of the acceptance of her nomina7 tion; 

8 (3) pays tribute to the efforts of Geraldine A. 

9 Ferraro to improve the lives of women and families 

10 in the Ninth Congressional District of New York, 

11 which she represented so well, and across the United 

12 States; and 

13 (4) appreciates the life story of Geraldine A. 

14 Ferraro, a daughter of immigrants who studied hard 

15 to become a teacher and later a prosecuting attor16 ney, a wife and mother who has fought to create a 

17 more just world, and a Congresswoman and Vice 

18 Presidential candidate who inspired a generation of 

19 women to run for public office. 

Æ 


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