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) sub-
mitted 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 Representa-
tives 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:56 Mar 23, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR807.IH
HR807
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
•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 Presi-
dent Richard Nixon; 
Whereas, in 1975, Bella Abzug introduced legislation, H.R. 
9924, to organize and convene a National Women’s Con-
ference, 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 regard-
less of gender, H.J. Res. 208, the Equal Rights Amend-
ment 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; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:56 Mar 23, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR807.IH
HR807
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 807 IH 
Whereas Bella Abzug, in opposition to nuclear testing, co-
founded 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 Con-
gresswoman Bella Abzug as Chair of the National Advi-
sory Committee for Women, which advised the President 
on initiatives needed to promote full equality for Amer-
ican women; 
Whereas, in 1991, Bella Abzug established the Women’s En-
vironment 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, ad-
vocating 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; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:56 Mar 23, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR807.IH
HR807
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 807 IH 
(2) commends the courage, hard work, commit-
ment, 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 con-
tributing role in society. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:56 Mar 23, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR807.IH
HR807
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS