IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1109 
Recognizing the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 and honoring 
the courageous suffragists who fought tirelessly for women’s right to vote. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 26, 2024 
Ms. WILLIAMS
of Georgia (for herself, Mrs. CHAVEZ-DEREMER, Mrs. 
BEATTY, Ms. NORTON, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. KIM of New 
Jersey, Mr. NEGUSE, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ 
of Texas, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mrs. MCBATH, 
Ms. CROCKETT, Ms. BUDZINSKI, Ms. SALINAS, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, 
Mr. MULLIN, Mr. DELUZIO, Mr. GOLDMAN of New York, Ms. LEE of 
California, Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania, Ms. SEWELL, Ms. JACOBS, Mr. 
CONNOLLY, Ms. TITUS, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. CAR-
SON, Ms. BROWN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. SOTO, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 
Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. BROWNLEY, Ms. STANSBURY, Ms. OCASIO-COR-
TEZ, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. ALLRED, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. 
KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Ms. 
CLARKE of New York, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. FOUSHEE, 
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia, Mr. PETERS, Ms. SCHOLTEN, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. 
BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Mr. GOTTHEIMER) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the historic Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 
and honoring the courageous suffragists who fought tire-
lessly for women’s right to vote. 
Whereas women have long been denied the right to partici-
pate fully in the democratic process, facing discrimination 
and disenfranchisement solely based on their gender; 
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•HRES 1109 IH 
Whereas the Women’s Suffrage Movement emerged in the 
late 19th and early 20th centuries as a powerful force ad-
vocating for the fundamental right of women to vote and 
have a voice in shaping the future of their country; 
Whereas, Alice Paul, Chair of the Congressional Committee 
of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, 
championed a shift toward Federal action, citing the slow 
progress and high costs associated with State-by-State 
referendums on women’s suffrage; 
Whereas Paul organized a procession on March 3, 1913, to 
persuade incoming President Woodrow Wilson of the ne-
cessity for a constitutional amendment for national wom-
en’s suffrage; 
Whereas, on March 3, 1913, the streets of Washington, DC, 
filled with thousands of women clad in suffragist white 
and carrying banners emblazoned with demands for equal 
rights and voting privileges; 
Whereas, Inez Milholland, a notable suffragist and labor law-
yer, led the procession atop a white horse named ‘‘Grey 
Dawn’’, symbolizing the suffragists’ definition of how a 
new woman of the 20th century dressed and behaved; 
Whereas the marchers began their journey from the Capitol 
Grounds and made their way along Pennsylvania Avenue 
toward the Treasury Building, with additional partici-
pants waiting at the end of the route in the grandstand 
set up for the next day’s inauguration; 
Whereas the suffragists waved banners and placards bearing 
slogans such as ‘‘Votes for Women’’ and ‘‘We Demand 
An Amendment To The Constitution of the United States 
Enfranchising the Women Of This Country’’; 
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•HRES 1109 IH 
Whereas the procession featured marchers organized into 
seven sections, including women from countries with suf-
frage rights, representatives of various occupations, so-
rorities and women’s clubs, including members of Delta 
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and State delegations, high-
lighting the diverse and widespread support for the suf-
frage cause; 
Whereas, despite initial expectations of a 45-minute proces-
sion, the event lasted several hours, drawing an estimated 
crowd of up to half a million spectators, including many 
in Washington, DC, for Wilson’s inauguration; 
Whereas, in the face of immense opposition, including verbal 
harassment and physical assaults, suffragists were resil-
ient and determined to continue their march for equality; 
Whereas, despite the joint resolution to keep the procession 
route clear, spectators at Fifth Street obstructed the 
path, forcing the marchers to navigate through a hostile 
crowd; 
Whereas suffragists were subjected to taunts and attacks, in-
cluding sexual propositions and being told to ‘‘go home’’ 
by hostile onlookers; 
Whereas the violence escalated to the point where at least 
100 protesters required medical attention, and medical 
professionals had to navigate through the crowd to reach 
the injured marchers; 
Whereas, despite the challenges and dangers they faced, 
many suffragists pressed on and completed the route, 
demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the 
cause; 
Whereas the visual spectacle of the procession conveyed the 
breadth and depth of women’s desire for the franchise; 
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•HRES 1109 IH 
Whereas the Woman Suffrage Procession demanded equal 
voting rights for women and drew attention to the urgent 
need for political and social reform to achieve gender 
equality; 
Whereas, as the marchers reached their destination at the 
gates of the Treasury Building, they urged incoming 
President Woodrow Wilson to support the cause of wom-
en’s suffrage and champion legislation granting women 
the right to vote; 
Whereas when President-elect Wilson arrived in Washington, 
DC, for the next day’s inauguration to little fanfare, one 
of the incoming President’s staff asked, ‘‘Where are all 
the people?’’, and was told ‘‘Watching the suffrage pa-
rade’’, by police on hand; 
Whereas the images of that historic procession, captured for 
posterity in newspapers and photographs, seared them-
selves into the collective consciousness of the Nation, 
serving as a stark reminder of the unfinished work of de-
mocracy and the urgent need for change; 
Whereas the overwhelming support and extensive media cov-
erage of the Woman Suffrage Procession propelled the 
movement to the forefront of national attention; 
Whereas the spotlight shed on the procession became a focal 
point in the ongoing struggle for women’s suffrage, gal-
vanizing public discourse and garnering widespread sup-
port for the cause; 
Whereas the bravery and perseverance of the suffragists who 
participated in the Woman Suffrage Procession catalyzed 
the women’s suffrage movement into a national effort fo-
cused on Federal legislative change; 
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•HRES 1109 IH 
Whereas the relentless advocacy of suffragists like Alice Paul 
and Lucy Burns, who led the charge at the Woman Suf-
frage Procession, laid the groundwork for the eventual 
passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States 
Constitution, which granted women the right to vote in 
1920; 
Whereas, as we commemorate this pivotal moment in the his-
tory of the women’s rights movement, let us reaffirm our 
commitment to upholding the principles of equality and 
democracy for all, ensuring that the sacrifices made by 
the suffragists are honored and their legacy preserved for 
future generations; 
Whereas the Woman Suffrage Procession underscored the ur-
gent need for Federal voting rights legislation; 
Whereas Federal legislation provides valuable protections in 
ensuring the right to vote for all citizens; 
Whereas the imperative for Federal voting laws remains 
paramount, guaranteeing universal access to the ballot 
box and transcending the limitations of State jurisdiction; 
Whereas, despite the progress made since the passage of the 
19th Amendment, significant barriers to voting rights 
and access persist for many marginalized communities, 
including women of color; 
Whereas it is imperative to recognize the intersectional na-
ture of the struggle for voting rights, acknowledging that 
women of color, particularly Black women, faced not only 
sexism, but also racism during the Woman Suffrage Pro-
cession and continue to face systemic barriers to political 
participation; and 
Whereas the ongoing fight for voting rights echoes the strug-
gles of the suffragists who bravely marched in 1913, re-
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•HRES 1109 IH 
minding us of the importance of defending and expanding 
democracy for all Americans: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) commemorates the historic Woman Suffrage 
Procession of 1913 and honors the courageous suf-
fragists who fought tirelessly for women’s right to 
vote; 
(2) recognizes the enduring significance of the 
Women’s Suffrage Movement in advancing gender 
equality and political participation in the United 
States; 
(3) reaffirms its commitment to upholding and 
protecting voting rights for all Americans, regardless 
of gender, race, or socioeconomic status; 
(4) condemns all forms of voter suppression 
and discrimination that undermine the integrity of 
our democracy and disenfranchise marginalized com-
munities; 
(5) calls for renewed efforts to dismantle sys-
temic barriers to voting and ensure equitable access 
to the ballot box for every citizen; and 
(6) pledges to continue working toward a more 
inclusive and representative democracy that reflects 
all Americans’ voices and experiences. 
Æ 
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