The 2022 Louisa Swain Day Celebration
To Be Announced
September 06: National Louisa Swain Day
House Concurrent Resolution 378
(110 Congress, 2nd Session)
Whereas the Wyoming Territorial legislature passed, and Governor John A. Campbell signed into law on December 10, 1869, a measure stating, "That every woman at the age of twenty-one years, residing in this territory, may, at every election, to be holden under the law thereof, cast her vote.";
Whereas this Suffrage Act granted women in the Wyoming Territory the right to vote with full civil and judicial equality to men;
Whereas Louisa Swain, on September 6, 1870, became the Nation's first woman voter under laws guaranteeing absolute political equality to women;
Whereas she cast that vote as a 70 year-old woman in the town of Laramie's municipal election;
Whereas, the Laramie Daily Sentinel wrote, "It is comforting to note that our first woman voter was really a lady...of the highest social standing in the community, universally beloved and respected. The scene was in the highest degree interesting and impressive. There was just too much good sense in our community for any jeers or neers to be seen on such an occasion";
Whereas this vote was inspirational to the women's suffrage movement and to the cause of civil rights;
Whereas, Wyoming's statehood, in 1890, brought the codification of this suffrage right through the ratification of the new Wyoming State constitution under Article 6, section 1;
Whereas, when the Congress threatened to withhold statehood from Wyoming, territory legislators replied with a telegram stating that Wyoming would remain our of the Union 100 years rather than join without women's suffrage;
Whereas President Benjamin Harrison, on July 10, 1890, signed into law a bill admitting Wyoming into the Union, and recognizing it as the nation's "Equality State";
Whereas these actions instigated a path to the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution 50 years after Louisa Swain's historic first vote; and
Whereas September 6 would be an appropriate date to designate as Louisa Swain Day: Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress supports the designation of a Louisa Swain Day.
-Introduced by Mrs. Cubin of Wyoming on June 24, 2008.
-Referred to Committee on Oversight and Reform on June 24, 2008.
-Discharged by Committee on September 27, 2008.
-Passed without objection inthe House on September 27, 2008.
-Passed by Unanimous Consent in the Senate on October 2, 2008.
-Passed by Unanimous Consent in the Senate on October 2, 2008.
-Message on Senate action sent to the House on October 3, 2008.
-First "Louisa Swain Day" Celebrated on September 6, 2009.
CO-SPONSORS OF LOUISA SWAIN DAY RESOLUTION
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Cubin (R, WY)
Rep. Michele Bachman (R, MN)
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D, WI)
Rep. Joe Barton (R, TX)
Rep. Bob Bishop (R, UT)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R, TN)
Rep. Joe Bonner (R, AL)
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R, CA)
Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D, GU)
Rep. Charles Boustany (R, LA)
Rep. Nancy Boyda (D, KS)
Rep. Robert Brady (D, PA)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R, TX)
Rep. Henry Brown (R, SC)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R, VA)
Rep. Lois Capps (D, CA)
Rep. Steve Cohen (D, TN)
Rep. Nathan Deal (R, GS)
Rep. John Dolittle (R, CA)
Rep. Thelma Drake (R, VA)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D, CA)
Rep. Mary Fallin (R, OK)
Rep. John Gingrey (R, GA)
Rep. Virgil Goode (R, VA)
Rep. Raul Greave (D, AZ)
Rep. Ralph Hall (R, TX)
Rep. Dean Heller (R, NV)
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D, SD)
Rep. Darlene Hooley (D, OR)
Rep. Darrell Issa (R, CA)
Rep. Ronald Kind (D, WI)
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R, CO)
Rep. Frank Lucas (R, OK)
Rep. Kenny Marchant (R, TX)
Rep. James McGovern (D, MA)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA)
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R, CO)
Rep. Sue Myrick (R, NC)
Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R, TX)
Rep. Mike Pence (R, IN)
Rep. George Radanovich (R, CA)
Rep. Dave Reichert (R, WA)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R, FL)
Rep. C.A. Ruppersberger (D, MD)
Rep. Bill Sali (R, ID)
Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D, IL)
Rep. Jean Schmidt (R, OH)
Rep. Robert Scott (D, VA)
Rep. John Shadegg (R, AZ)
Rep. John Shimkus (R, IL)
Rep. Albio Sires (D, NJ)
Rep. John Sullivan (R, OK)
Rep. Lee Terry (R, NE)
Rep. Greg Walden (R, OR)
Rep. David Weldon (R, PA)
Rep. Edward Whitfield (R, KY)