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The Commission is grateful to its federal partners for their commitment to amplifying women’s stories during this historic milestone.

“Our bipartisan resolution designating August 2020 as National Women’s Suffrage Month recognizes and honors the struggle to extend to women the most fundamental right in our democracy – the right to vote. As our nation comes together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, let us remember that the hard work for women’s suffrage was done by women of all backgrounds, including women of color who fought and marched alongside their white colleagues in the suffrage movement, but whose contributions went largely unsung, and many of whom were still denied the right to vote after the 19th Amendment was ratified. This year, as America celebrates this monumental Centennial and all the progress that women have made in the last 100 years, let us also recognize that we have more glass ceilings to break, and more work to do to make sure that the voting rights that have been won for all, are protected.”
— U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

U.S. Congress

Centennial commemorations began on May 21, 2019, which marked 100 years since the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 19th Amendment. On the anniversary, House Members recognized this turning point in history by giving floor speeches acknowledging the unique roles their states played in the suffrage movement and by passing a commemorative resolution (H.Res.354) celebrating the centennial and reaffirming the desire of Congress to continue strengthening democratic participation. On this occasion, many Members wore white in honor of the suffragists, and all wore yellow roses, a symbol of the suffragists’ ultimate victory, which were provided by the Commission. The passage of the commemorative resolution was followed by a reception in the Capitol hosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi in celebration of the centennial. Two weeks later, on June 4, 2019, the Senate recognized its own suffrage anniversary, passing commemorative resolution, S.Res.212. The Commission was proud to work with Congress to kick off the nationwide suffrage centennial commemoration.

Federal Commemorations Congress
From left to right: Cokie Roberts, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Rebecca Boggs Roberts, Kay Coles James, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Debbie Lesko, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in the U.S. Capitol, May 21, 2019

From left to right: Cokie Roberts, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Rebecca Boggs Roberts, Kay Coles James, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Debbie Lesko, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in the U.S. Capitol, May 21, 2019

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, May 21, 2019

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, May 21, 2019

Women Senators of the 116th U.S. Congress, June 4, 2019

Women Senators of the 116th U.S. Congress, June 4, 2019

Sen. Mikulski and Kay Coles James, May 21, 2019
Sen. Mikulski and Kay Coles James, May 21, 2019
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The White HOuse

Alongside commemorative resolutions passed by Congress, The White House honored the suffrage centennial through ceremonial bill signings and commemorative proclamations. In November 2019, President Donald Trump invited the Commission to The White House for the signing of the legislation that created the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Silver Dollar. In August 2020, the Commission attended the signing of the President’s suffrage centennial commemorative proclamation, during which President Trump also announced that he would pardon Susan B. Anthony for her 1872 conviction for illegally voting.

Federal Commemorations White House
Commissioners at the White House, November 25, 2019

Commissioners at the White House, November 25, 2019

Commissioners at the White House, August 18, 2020

Commissioners at the White House, August 18, 2020

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Federal Agencies

On June 4, 2019, the Commission attended the opening of the Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote exhibition at the Library of Congress. The suffrage centennial exhibitions at the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the National Portrait Gallery, and the National Museum of American History throughout 2019 and 2020 raised the profile of the women’s suffrage movement in the narrative of American history.

In July 2020, Commission Chair Susan Combs attended a proclamation signing in the office of Senator Marsha Blackburn, during which Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt signed the designation of Nashville’s Hermitage Hotel as a National Historic Landmark in honor of its important role in the suffrage movement.

Federal Commemorations Agencies
Administrator Jovita Carranza, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Archivist of United States, David Ferriero, at the National Archives, May 8, 2019?

Administrator Jovita Carranza, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Archivist of United States, David Ferriero, at the National Archives, May 8, 2019?

Karen Hill and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom at the Library of Congress, June 4, 2019

Karen Hill and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom at the Library of Congress, June 4, 2019

Cleta Mitchell and Marjorie Dannenfelser at the National Archives, May 8, 2019

Cleta Mitchell and Marjorie Dannenfelser at the National Archives, May 8, 2019

Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza at the Library of Congress with suffragist reenactors, June 4, 2019

Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza at the Library of Congress with suffragist reenactors, June 4, 2019

Ceremonial Reading of the 19th Amendment with Members of Congress and WSCC Leadership at the Library of Congress, June 4, 2019

Ceremonial Reading of the 19th Amendment with Members of Congress and WSCC Leadership at the Library of Congress, June 4, 2019

Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence and Senator Marsha Blackburn at the Library of Congress exhibit opening, June 4, 2019

Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence and Senator Marsha Blackburn at the Library of Congress exhibit opening, June 4, 2019

Administrator Carranza, Kay Coles James, and Heather Higgins at the Library of Congress, June 4, 2019

Administrator Carranza, Kay Coles James, and Heather Higgins at the Library of Congress, June 4, 2019

Sen. Lamar Alexander, Susan Combs, Sec. Bernhardt, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, July 28, 2020

Sen. Lamar Alexander, Susan Combs, Sec. Bernhardt, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, July 28, 2020

Susan Combs and Sec. Bernhardt, July 28, 2020

Susan Combs and Sec. Bernhardt, July 28, 2020

WSCC Executive Director Anna Laymon (left) and Hermitage Hotel Managing Director Dee Patel (right) at the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN next to the National Historic Landmark designation plaque, November 2020

WSCC Executive Director Anna Laymon (left) and Hermitage Hotel Managing Director Dee Patel (right) at the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN next to the National Historic Landmark designation plaque, November 2020

The Hermitage Hotel National Historic Landmark, November 2020

The Hermitage Hotel National Historic Landmark, November 2020

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Commemorative legislation

Throughout 2019 and 2020, the Commission worked closely with the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to support commemorative legislation honoring 100 years of the 19th Amendment.

 
 

H.Res.354
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Passage and Ratification of the 19th Amendment, Providing for Women's Suffrage, to the Constitution of the United States

Co-sponsored by Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) and Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), this resolution celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, providing for women's suffrage. The resolution also reaffirmed the desire of Congress to continue strengthening democratic participation. The resolution passed on May 21, 2019.

S.Res.212
A Resolution Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Passage and Ratification of the 19th Amendment, Providing for Women's Suffrage, to the Constitution of the United States

Co-sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), this resolution celebrated the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, providing for women's suffrage. The resolution also reaffirmed the desire of Congress to continue strengthening democratic participation. The resolution passed on June 4, 2019.

S.1235/H.R.2423
Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

Co-sponsored by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in the Senate and by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) in the House, this bill directed the U.S. Department of Treasury to mint a commemorative coin featuring imagery that honors the suffrage movement. All surcharges received from the sale of coins issued under this Act will be given to the Smithsonian Institution’s American Women’s History Initiative. The bill passed in the Senate on June 4, 2019, and in the House on October 28, 2019. The bill was signed into law by President Trump on November 25, 2019.

S.Res.648
A Resolution designating August 2020 as National Women’s Suffrage Month

Co-sponsored by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), this resolution designated August 2020 as National Women's Suffrage Month, honoring the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which provided for women's suffrage. The resolution passed on July 2, 2020.

H.Res.1046
Supporting the designation of August 2020 as National Women’s Suffrage Month

Co-sponsored by Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) and Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), this resolution supports the designation of National Women's Suffrage Month. It also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which provided for women's suffrage. The resolution passed on July 29, 2020.

S.J.Res.74
A joint resolution requesting the Secretary of the Interior to authorize a unique and one-time arrangement for certain displays on Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Sponsored by Senator John Thune (R-SD), this joint resolution requests the Department of the Interior to authorize a one-time arrangement to commemorate the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution entitled “Look Up to Her” at Mount Rushmore with a display of historical artifacts, digital content, film footage, and associated historical audio and imagery in and around the vicinity of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota for fourteen nights of public display. The resolution passed on August 6, 2020.