| R 213 |
| 2019 -- H 5981 Enacted 04/10/2019 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING APRIL 10, 2019, TO BE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF "THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF RHODE ISLAND" |
| Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Ruggiero, Corvese, Speakman, and Donovan |
| Date Introduced: April 10, 2019 |
| WHEREAS, The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that has, over |
| its distinguished past, played a critical role in fostering civil debate and shaping public policy in |
| myriad ways to reform government and create a more just and equitable society; and |
| WHEREAS, Carrie Chapman Catt, the President of the National Woman Suffrage |
| Association, proposed the National League of Women Voters as a department of the National |
| Suffrage Association at its convention in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 19, 1919, a year before |
| the 19th Amendment was passed; and |
| WHEREAS, A state charter was secured for the League of Women Voters of the Rhode |
| Island State Division by the Rhode Island Equal Suffrage Association on April 1, 1919; and |
| WHEREAS, Ms. Chapman campaigned tirelessly, across the United States, for passage |
| of the 19th Amendment and was successful when it was finally passed in 1920. Another key |
| reason Ms. Chapman founded The League of Women Voters was the hope that by motivating the |
| twenty million American women who could now vote, they would use their new right in ways |
| that would influence and shape public policy and the elected officials making these decisions; and |
| WHEREAS, Through the years, the League has sponsored numerous “Get Out The Vote” |
| campaigns, and sponsored and hosted Presidential debates in 1976, 1980, and 1984. The League |
| has also played a leading role at critical junctures in American history including, President |
| Truman inviting the League to serve as a consultant to the United States delegation at the United |
| Nations Charter Conference in 1945. In the 1960s, League membership peaked at 157,000 |
| members. In support of the Civil Rights movement, the League supported equal access to |
| education and employment; and |
| WHEREAS, More recently, the League of Women Voters has strongly advocated in |
| support of protecting our environment, health care rights and access, and the protection of our |
| voting rights in addition to supporting legislation to make it easier to register, such as the |
| National Registration Act of 1993, commonly known as the “Motor-Voter Act” which required |
| states to offer the opportunity to register to vote to anyone who applies for, or renews a driver’s |
| license; and |
| WHEREAS, For 100 years the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and the League |
| of Women Voters of Providence have collaborated with other organizations to increase civic |
| participation and fight for important reforms such as fair elections, open government, campaign |
| finance reform, education and environmental protection. It is fitting to honor and recognize the |
| League’s numerous accomplishments and thank them for their advocacy on behalf of the rights’ |
| of women, minorities, and other historically disadvantaged groups; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and |
| Providence Plantations hereby joyously celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the |
| League of Women Voters of Rhode Island on April 10, 2019; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Ms. Virginia Kase, Chief Executive Officer, |
| League of Women Voters, and Ms. Jane Koster, President of the Rhode Island League of Women |
| Voters. |
| ======== |
| LC002235 |
| ======== |