BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SJR 20|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SJR 20
Author: Alquist (D), et al
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE OR FILE
SUBJECT : Womens Equality Day
SOURCE : Legislative Womens Caucus
DIGEST : This resolution requests the Congress and the
President of the United States to uphold protections of
womens equality and to encourage all Americans to
participate in the celebration of Women's Equality Day on
August 26, 2006, the 86th anniversary of the passage of the
Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,
which gave women the right to vote.
ANALYSIS :
This resolution makes the following legislative findings
and declarations:
1. August 26, 2006, marks the 86th anniversary of passage
of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution and is Women's Equality Day, a day
deserving of celebration and special public
commendation.
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2. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Martha C. Wright,
Mary Ann McClintock, and Jane Hunt organized the first
Women's Rights Convention in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New
York, where 100 women and men from all walks of life
affixed their signatures to the Declaration of
Sentiments, which proclaimed that "all men and women are
created equal" and are "endowed with certain inalienable
rights," including elective franchise.
3. Several generations of suffragists fought for the right
for women to vote and few early participants in this
massive civil rights movement lived to see the victory
in 1920.
4. On August 26, 1920, after a 72-year struggle, the
Nineteenth Amendment was added to the United States
Constitution, securing a woman's right to vote.
5. In 1971, the United States Congress designated August 26
as Women's Equality Day to commemorate the ratification
of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution and as a reminder of the need for
continuing efforts for women to achieve full equality.
6. Since 1920, women have made tremendous gains in society,
including the right to vote, the right to be free from
discrimination in employment, and the right to equal
access to education, including sports.
7. Despite these gains, women still need to make great
strides in order to achieve civic, economic, and social
equality.
8. Women still earn only 76 cents to every dollar earned by
a man, disproportionately live in poverty, and are more
likely to be victims of domestic violence than men,
female athletes have fewer participation opportunities
than male athletes, and far fewer dollars are spent on
women's athletics programs than on men's athletics
programs.
9. On August 26, 2006, Women's Equality Day and the
anniversary of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment,
the women and men who have worked tirelessly to secure
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equality for women are to be commended for what they
have achieved thus far and supported in their continued
efforts to champion the rights of women.
This resolution requests the Congress and the President of
the United States to do all of the following:
1. Dedicate themselves to upholding the current legal
protections of equality for women.
2. Continue to pioneer new protections of equality for
women until women achieve parity with men.
3. Encourage all Americans to participate in the national
celebration of Women's Equality Day in recognition of
the 86th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment to the
United States Constitution and its historic importance
in promoting women's rights.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 3/22/06)
California Association for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation, and Dance
DLW:nl 3/22/06 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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