HOUSE MEMORIAL 108

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Trujillo and Christine Trujillo

A MEMORIAL

HONORING NEW MEXICO FEMALE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DECLARING MARCH 8, 2017 "INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

     WHEREAS, international women's day, March 8, has been celebrated around the world since 1909 and in the United States since 1977; and

     WHEREAS, there are more than three billion five hundred million women in the world; and

     WHEREAS, the ability of women and girls to realize their full potential is critical to the ability of a country to achieve strong and lasting economic growth and political and social stability; and

     WHEREAS, it is imperative to alleviate violence and discrimination against women and afford women every opportunity to be full and productive members of their communities; and

     WHEREAS, this year's international women's day theme is "#BeBoldForChange"; and

     WHEREAS, on this day, thousands of events inspiring women and celebrating their achievements will be held throughout the world; and

     WHEREAS, the first Hispanic female legislators in the United States served in New Mexico's territorial legislature, beginning in 1895; and

     WHEREAS, following New Mexico's statehood in 1912, Representative Bertha Paxton became the first woman elected to the New Mexico legislature in 1923; and

     WHEREAS, Soledad Chacon was New Mexico's first female secretary of state, serving from 1923 through 1926, and the first female to act as governor for a substantial period of time in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, in 1925, Louise Coe became the first woman elected to the New Mexico senate and, in 1935, became the first female senate president pro tempore in New Mexico and in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico Representatives Fedelina Gallegos and Porfirria Hidalgo Saiz, who both served from 1931 to 1932, were the first Hispanic female state legislators in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, in 1941, New Mexico Representative Concha Ortiz y Pino became the first female majority whip in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, in 1947, Georgia Lee Witt Lusk of New Mexico's first district became the first woman from New Mexico to serve in the United States house of representatives; and

     WHEREAS, in 1959, Virginia Klinekole became the first female president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe; and

     WHEREAS, in 1972, Consuela Jaramillo Kitzes Burrell became New Mexico's first Hispanic female state senator; and

     WHEREAS, in 1984, Mary Walters became the first woman appointed to the New Mexico supreme court, serving through the end of 1988; and 

     WHEREAS, Pauline Eisenstadt became the first woman to serve in both New Mexico legislative chambers, having served in the house of representatives from 1985 to 1992 and in the senate from 1997 to 2000; and

     WHEREAS, Lynda Morgan Lovejoy, who became the first Native American woman in the New Mexico house of representatives in 1989, later served in the New Mexico senate and is the first Native American woman to serve in both chambers; and

     WHEREAS, Debbie Jaramillo became the first female mayor of the city of Santa Fe in 1994, and in 2016, Tonita Gurule-Giron became the first female mayor of Las Vegas, New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton became the first African American woman to serve in the New Mexico house of representatives in 1995 and the first African American floor leader in the legislature; and

     WHEREAS, Gloria Tristani, who in 1997 was appointed to the federal communications commission, became the first Hispanic woman elected to the state corporation commission in 1995; and

     WHEREAS, Mary Jane M. Garcia became the New Mexico senate's first Hispanic female majority whip in 1996; and

     WHEREAS, Patricia Madrid became New Mexico's first female attorney general in 1998; and

     WHEREAS, Heather Wilson, from New Mexico's first district, became the first female veteran in the United States house of representatives in 1998; and

     WHEREAS, Diane Denish became New Mexico's first female lieutenant governor, having served two terms from 2003 to 2011; and

     WHEREAS, in 2011, Susana Martinez became the first female Hispanic governor in New Mexico and in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, in 2013, Michelle Lujan Grisham, from New Mexico's first district, became the first Hispanic woman to represent New Mexico in the United States house of representatives; and 

     WHEREAS, one hundred thirty-four women have served in the New Mexico house of representatives, and thirty women have served in the senate; and

     WHEREAS, no woman has served as long as Representative Debbie A. Rodella, who is the longest-serving woman to have served in the New Mexico legislature and who is still adding to her tenure, which began in 1993; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is distinguished for having many political female "firsts";

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that all New Mexico women who have been elected to and served in political office be honored; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the house of representatives recognize that the empowerment of women is inextricably linked to the potential of New Mexico to generate economic growth, sustainable democracy and inclusive security; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Wednesday, March 8, 2017, be recognized as "International Women's Day" in the house of representatives.

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