Honoring the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the 1st statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 159) honoring the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the 1st statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present House Resolution 159 for consideration. This resolution pays tribute to the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the first statewide legislative body in United States history with a majority of women members.

House Resolution 159 was introduced on February 11, 2009, by my friend and fellow New Englander, Representative Paul Hodes of New Hampshire. In addition, this resolution was favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009, and enjoys the support of nearly 60 Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 159 honors the New Hampshire State Senate for the remarkable distinction of becoming the first statewide legislative body to consist of a majority of women members. According to 2008 Census Bureau estimates, women comprise roughly 50.7 percent of the American population, yet despite the extent of their representation in the U.S. population, women remain significantly underrepresented at local, State and Federal Government levels. Notably, out of the 435 Members of the House of Representatives, women hold 77 congressional seats. Moreover, in the United States Senate, women hold 17 of the Senate's 100 seats.

In light of these and similar statistics evidencing the underrepresentation of women in government, the advancement of female legislators in the New Hampshire State Senate can be characterized as a defining moment in our Nation's history.

Following the State legislature elections of November 2008, the State of New Hampshire began its current legislative session on December 3, 2008, with a historic female majority in the State Senate. Specifically, women legislators currently hold 13 of New Hampshire's 24 State Senate seats. In addition, nine female Senators are currently serving as Chairs in the State Senate, which consists of 14 standing committees. Moreover, the Honorable Sylvia Larsen is currently serving her second consecutive term as State Senate president with the Honorable Terie Norelli also serving her second consecutive term as Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize that this watershed moment in American history would not have been possible without the efforts of previous female leaders in New Hampshire politics, including the Honorable E. Maude Ferguson and the Honorable Vesta Roy. Senator Ferguson, who served in the New Hampshire State House from 1931 to 1933, has the distinction of becoming the first woman elected to the New Hampshire State Senate. Ms. Roy made history as the first woman elected to serve as president of the New Hampshire State Senate as well as the first woman to serve as the Governor of New Hampshire from 1982 to 1983.

Mr. Speaker, the remarkable achievements of these women legislators are as inspirational as they are historic, to all those Americans that are committed to the equality of all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or gender.

Let us as a body take this opportunity to honor the great State of New Hampshire and its State Senate for this fine achievement by passing House Resolution 159. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I will just point out that last week, we actually finally had an official draft of the health care reform bill. My colleagues on the other side have insisted, rightly, that they have 72 hours to review that bill; that it be placed online. I think it is a courtesy to keep controversial issues off the floor today to allow Members to consider that legislation because it is so important. I think if we jammed the schedule today with controversial matters, you might hear the complaint from my colleagues and others that they weren't given a full and fair opportunity to read that health care reform bill.

So, you're darned if you do sometimes, and you're darned if you don't. But I certainly do want to join with the lead sponsor and my colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina, but especially Paul Hodes from New Hampshire, who is the lead sponsor of this resolution, in congratulating the New Hampshire State Senate. I happen to be a member of the New Hampshire bar, so this is particularly a proud moment for me as well in celebrating their terrific accomplishment through the passage of House Resolution 159.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation I introduced, House Resolution 159. My resolution honors the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the first statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States. New Hampshire has a proud tradition of being a first-in-the-nation State, and with this historic achievement, the Granite State continues to lead the way in providing equal opportunity for everyone. I am proud to represent the great State of New Hampshire, which today shines as an example for the entire country.

I want to recognize all 13 women who are currently serving in the New Hampshire State Senate. They are the Honorable Sharon Carson, Jacalyn Cilley, Martha Fuller Clark, Betsi DeVries, Peggy Gilmour, Margaret Hassan, Molly Kelly, Sylvia Larsen, Bette Lasky, Amanda Merrill, Deborah Reynolds, Sheila Roberge, and Kathleen Sgambati. These leaders comprise the majority female body of the New Hampshire State Senate and were elected to office on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on December 3, 2008.

I would also like to recognize the following women, who played critical roles in the history of New Hampshire government:

Senator Jeanne Shaheen was the first woman in the State of New Hampshire to be elected Governor in 1997. She is currently serving as the first female senator from the State of New Hampshire.

The first woman to serve as a member of the New Hampshire State Senate was E. Maude Ferguson, who served from 1931 to 1933.

Vesta Roy served as the first female State Senate President, and in 1983 she became the first female Governor of the State of New Hampshire.

In 1994, the Honorable Sylvia Larsen was elected to the New Hampshire State Senate and has served 7 consecutive terms thus far. She is currently serving in her second term as President of the New Hampshire Senate.

In 1996, the Honorable Terie Norelli was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives and has served 6 consecutive terms thus far, and in 2008 was re-elected to serve as Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives for a 2nd consecutive term.

Thank you for bringing this important resolution on the New Hampshire State Senate's historic achievement of being the first statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States to the floor of the House of Representatives for consideration. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As I said in the previous resolution that I was managing here on the floor, while I am supportive of this legislation, the previous commemorating resolution and the additional one that the Oversight and Government Reform Committee is offering here for consideration today, I believe that Congress should be, instead, focusing on higher-priority initiatives. We're facing record

unemployment, deficits that threaten to bankrupt the country, and a stimulus that is failing to create new jobs. Congress should be considering legislation providing real and immediate economic solutions for the American people before naming and commemorating anything.

But having said that, I do think it is important to recognize the State of New Hampshire for their major milestone, and I rise in support of H. Res. 159, honoring the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the first statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States. It is a significant achievement. As a result of the 2008 statewide elections, 13 of 24 seats in the Senate are now held by women, an increase of three members which resulted in their majority status. On the national level, less than one in four legislators is female and eight of 50 Governors is a woman. These numbers continue to grow with each election year throughout the country.

I'm pleased to salute the women of New Hampshire for their commitment to public service as well as women throughout the United States who choose to serve our citizens on the local, State and Federal levels as their elected representatives. We certainly commend the wonderful work and addition that New Hampshire has been able to meet by this wonderful milestone.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.