HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 96-4752, by Representatives Costa, Ogden, Chopp, Hatfield, Brown, Grant, Kessler, Jacobsen, Chappell, Cole, R. Fisher, Cody, Scheuerman, Keiser, Conway, Murray, Tokuda, Wolfe, Romero, Linville, Regala, Veloria, Poulsen, Patterson, Rust, Mason, Ballasiotes, Hankins, Mitchell, Radcliff, Hymes, Skinner, Brumsickle, K. Schmidt, Robertson, Johnson and Lambert

     WHEREAS, Women comprise the majority of the citizens of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, Washington was among the first states to grant suffrage to women, and has been a consistent leader in promoting the full equality of women; and

     WHEREAS, Barriers to women's full equality still exist, and include prejudice, domestic violence, lack of access to education and job training, and disproportionate responsibility for unpaid domestic labor and child-rearing; and

     WHEREAS, Women of color continue to suffer from the double burden of prejudice and discrimination on account of both sex and race; and

     WHEREAS, Women around the world have come to recognize that the struggle for full equality is both a local and a global endeavor that must be pursued at every level simultaneously; and

     WHEREAS,  March 8 is recognized around the world as International Women's Day;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and celebrate International Women's Day as time to recognize and reflect on the progress that has been made toward full equality for women across the globe; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That International Women's Day be recognized as a time for prayer for the well-being of all women, and for the continuing progress and ultimate success of the movement toward full equality and full human rights for women of every color, of every age, of every religion, of every culture, and of every nation.

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