GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1760

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Sponsors: Representatives Alexander, Boyd-McIntyre, Russell; Adams, Allen, Baddour, Berry, Black, Bonner, Bowie, Brawley, Church, Clary, Cunningham, Daughtry, Dedmon, Earle, Easterling, Esposito, Fox, Gardner, Goodwin, Hall, Hardaway, Hensley, Hightower, Hill, Howard, Hurley, Insko, Jarrell, Jeffus, Luebke, Michaux, Moore, Morris, Mosley, Neely, Nesbitt, Nye, Owens, Preston, Ramsey, Redwine, Reynolds, Sherrill, Shubert, Smith, Sutton, Tolson, Wainwright, Warwick, Watson, C. Wilson, and Yongue.

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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House.

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July 20, 1998

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING LILLIAN E. CLEMENT, THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE IN THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON THE SIXTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL ORDER OF WOMEN LEGISLATORS.
Whereas, 1998 will mark the 150th anniversary of the Women's Rights Movement in the United States, a bold and courageous civil rights movement that began in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, at the first Women's Rights Convention ever held; and
Whereas, the Declaration of Sentiments issued by that convention represents a work as fundamental to our nation's commitment to liberty and personal freedom as does our Declaration of Independence; and
Whereas, the Declaration of Sentiments launched a movement that has changed this nation and the hopes of its women irrevocably; and
Whereas, the resulting Women's Rights Movement has had a profound impact on all aspects of American life and has opened new and well-deserved opportunities for women in all fields of endeavor; and
Whereas, despite one and one-half centuries of efforts now spanning seven generations of unceasing work to achieve equality for one-half the American population, the twenty-first century will find an ever-increasing need for both women and men to share in the fundamental responsibilities for our national life and the blessings that must result from full and equal participation in society; and
Whereas, the National Order of Women Legislators, established in 1938, was formed not long after women's suffrage was added to the United States Constitution as the 19th Amendment; and
Whereas, not only have women won the right to vote, they are being elected to public office at all levels of government; and
Whereas, it is the strongly-held belief of this legislature that, while much remains to be accomplished, the Women's Rights Movement has been tremendously successful in changing the status of women in this country; and
Whereas, on the 60th anniversary of the National Order of Women Legislators, Inc., the General Assembly pauses to pay tribute for the life and accomplishments of Lillian E. Clement of Buncombe County, who in 1921 was elected to the House of Representatives, becoming the first woman to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
Section 1.  The General Assembly honors the life and memory of Lillian E. Clement and commends the National Order of Women Legislators upon the occasion of the organization's 60th Anniversary and celebrates the Order's 60 years of leadership and commitment to public service.
Section 2.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.