| Comments | Committee Substitute
for
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 14
(By Senators Boley, Azinger, Baldwin, Beach, Caputo, Clements, Ihlenfeld, Jeffries, Karnes, Lindsay, Martin, Maynard, Nelson, Phillips, Roberts, Romano, Stollings, Swope, Weld, Woelfel, Grady, Plymale, Sypolt, Hamilton, Maroney, Unger, Smith, Trump, and Woodrum)
[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization; reported March 24, 2021]
Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance recognize the historical legacy of West Virginia suffragists through the creation of the West Virginia Womens Suffrage Memorial, to be located on the Capitol grounds as a permanent reminder of the impact of the suffragists on West Virginias past, present, and future.
Whereas, The definition of a suffragist is a person advocating to extend the right to vote to more people and especially women; and
Whereas, West Virginia suffragists worked for decades from the advent of statehood to 1920 to win the vote for women in West Virginia and expand the democratic participation in society of women; and
Whereas, The accomplishments and contributions of women have not been fully recognized in West Virginia; and
Whereas, Their sacrifices for a long, persistent, and heroic struggle are not well-known; and
Whereas, The beautiful grounds of our State Capitol would be a proper place to honor womens struggle for their rights including the right to vote; and
Whereas, It is fitting that a permanent memorial be established to honor the lives and work of West Virginia suffragists; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance recognize the historical legacy of West Virginia suffragists through the creation of the West Virginia Womens Suffrage Memorial, to be located on the Capitol grounds as a permanent reminder of the impact of the suffragists on West Virginias past, present, and future; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Governor shall establish a nine-member commission called the Suffragist Memorial Committee. The committee shall be composed of: One member of the Senate; one member of the House of Delegates; one representative of the Governors office; one representative from the Office of the Secretary of State; one representative of the League of Women Voters; one representative of the Kanawha Valley National Organization for Women; one member of the WVU Womens Studies Program; one member of the Marshall University Womens Studies Program; and one representative of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the work of the committee will be staffed by the West Virginia Womens Commission to provide administrative support to organize meetings and record minutes of all meetings; and, be it
Further Resolved, That meetings will begin in July of 2021 and meet monthly until December 31, 2021. During this time, the committee will consult with the public about the project, research the suffragists active in getting the vote ratified in West Virginia, and choose one prominent suffragist to be honored; and, be it
Further Resolved, That beginning in January 2022, the committee shall consult on the cost of the project, begin to solicit funds, and ultimately solicit proposals for creation of a memorial on the Capitol grounds upon approval of the Capitol Grounds Building Authority; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of the resolution to the West Virginia Womens Commission. | | |
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