HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 94-4725, by Representatives Kessler, J. Kohl, Cooke, Karahalios, Foreman, Quall, King, Wood, Leonard, L. Johnson, Rust, Sheldon, R. Fisher, R. Meyers, Conway, Shin, Linville, Moak, Edmondson, Thibaudeau, Chandler, Forner, Dunshee, Roland, Jones, Holm, Wolfe, Dellwo, Dyer, Ogden, Jacobsen, Veloria, Scott, Caver, Johanson, Orr, Eide, Basich, Cothern, Brown, Brough, Patterson, Grant, Carlson, Long and Kremen

               WHEREAS, Women of every age, race, religion, creed, ethnicity, economic status, and degree of ability and disability have immeasurably enriched our homes, our state, our country, and every nation on Earth; and

               WHEREAS, American women played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of life by constituting a significant portion of the labor force whether working inside or outside of the home, whether paid or volunteer; and

               WHEREAS, American women of every age, race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders of every major progressive, social change movement; and

               WHEREAS, American women were leaders not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and especially the peace movement, to create a more fair and just society for all; and

               WHEREAS, The recent State Department annual report on human rights abundantly illustrates that day-to-day discrimination against women remains a fact of life around the globe; and

               WHEREAS, There exists a definite relationship between world-wide violence against women and excessive militarism, the use of force to resolve conflicts and disregard for human life, which finds expression today among our young people who increasingly seek guns instead of conversation to settle the most trivial disagreements; and

               WHEREAS, Women continue to lead efforts in working against violence committed against women and children, promoting equity, and eliminating discrimination; and

               WHEREAS, The House of Representatives has always been a champion of women's rights and a national leader in progress for women, and leads the nation in the number of women officials elected by voters state-wide; and

               WHEREAS, Washington State now has more women legislators than any state has ever had before in the history of the United States; and

               WHEREAS, March is Women's History Month and the United Nations has declared March 8th to be International Women's Day;

               NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives honor, thank, and celebrate the women of the world and recognize March 8th as International Women's Day.

                                               I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

                                           Resolution 4725 adopted by the House of Representatives

                                                                        March 8, 1994.

                                                       ________________________________

                                                              Marilyn Showalter, Chief Clerk