WHEREAS, Women of every age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, economic status, occupation, and degree of ability or disability have made considerable contributions to the growth and development of our communities, states, country, and nations around the world; and
     WHEREAS, Women have played a critical role in the social, cultural, and spiritual development of communities around the globe; and
     WHEREAS, Women of all backgrounds have constituted significant portions of the labor force, whether working outside or inside the home, whether paid or as a volunteer, and have played a critical role in the nurturing of our children; and
     WHEREAS, Women have served as leaders of progressive social movements to secure individual rights and freedoms and continue to lead efforts to eliminate discrimination and violence against all people and to promote equality, security, and peace; and
     WHEREAS, Women have been largely unrecognized and undervalued for their historical and contemporary scientific, governmental, athletic, literary, and artistic accomplishments; and
     WHEREAS, Women continue to experience day-to-day discrimination and continue to be victims of violence around the globe; and
     WHEREAS, Washington state has been a champion of women's rights and a national leader in promoting progress for women, having been one of the first states to grant suffrage to women, and having the highest proportion of women legislators of any state legislature in the history of the United States at 40.8% in 2000 and at 36.7% currently; and
     WHEREAS, For the first time in the history of Washington state, two women, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, have been elected to serve in the United States Senate; and
     WHEREAS, The United States of America, as a world leader, recognized the critical role of women in America by establishing March as National Women's History Month; and
     WHEREAS, The United Nations has proclaimed March 8th to be International Women's Day since 1975;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor and celebrate the women of our state, country, and the world, and recognize March 8th as International Women's Day and that March is National Women's History Month.