Senate Resolution 123--Designating March 2021 As ``National Women's History Month''

Floor Speech

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Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month to recognize the extraordinary achievements of past generations of women, and to pay tribute to the vital role they have played in the political, economic, and social development of this nation.

Women's History Month provides a special opportunity to reflect upon women's countless accomplishments that touch all aspects of our society--from government, to business, the arts and sciences, the military and much more. I look upon the courage our predecessors displayed with great admiration, and I continue to be inspired by those who blazed the trail for women like me.

In December of this past year, I was incredibly proud to see the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act, which I co-led with Senator Susan Collins, enacted into law. This law will create a long overdue, permanent museum to collect, study, and create programs that celebrate women's experiences and contributions.

However, the last year also brought with it the loss of a number of pioneering women, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, and the brave Civil Rights Movement champion Lucille Bridges. Though these icons are no longer with us, their contributions will live on and their accomplishments have shattered glass ceilings for future generations of women. May we honor their work and memory with a commitment to elevate and support future women leaders.

This past election year marked a new high water mark for women in politics, as more women ran for and were elected to office in 2020 than ever before. Of the many notable wins, I was overjoyed to see my friend and former Senate colleague, Vice President Kamala Harris, elected to the nation's second-highest office. The election of more women to places of power is crucial for our continued progress.

I am eager to work with Vice President Harris and the 144 women serving in Congress in 2021 to address the challenges before us.

One of our first priorities must be to address the ongoing pandemic, which has had devastating consequences for the health of our country and economy. The pandemic has also uniquely harmed women and girls-- especially women of color. A disproportionate number of women have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, and are often unable to maintain work commitments with children learning from home while schools are closed. As far as we have come, this unequal harm borne by women during the pandemic reminds us of the work toward equality that is yet to be done. We must continue our work to ensure fairness and equity for women everywhere.

As we undertake to celebrate Women's History Month, I ask my colleagues to celebrate with me how far we have come and to continue the fight for the progress of all women--especially those who are struggling during these trying times.

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