Women's History Month 2012

Whereas women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways;

Whereas women have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of the life of the Nation by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home;

Whereas women have played a unique role throughout the history of the Nation by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force of the Nation;

Whereas women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our Nation;

Whereas women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement;

Whereas women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements, especially the peace movement, which create a more fair and just society for all; and

Whereas despite these contributions, the role of women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued, in the literature, teaching and study of history:

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that March is designated as "Women's History Month.

This resolution was passed by Congress in 1987 and successive years since then.

This proclamation is made available by The National Women's History Project, founded in 1980, is an educational nonprofit organization. The mission is to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs.

For more information about the origin of National Women's History Month or the activities of the National Women's History Project, go to www.nwhp.org.