Bill Passed House Last Congress, Awards Congressional Gold Medal to Women's Rights Advocate

Washington, DC – Today Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to award the Congressional Gold Medal to suffragist Alice Paul.  The Alice Paul Women’s Suffrage Congressional Gold Medal Act, H.R. 406, officially recognizes Paul’s role in the women’s suffrage movement and in advancing equal rights for women.

“Alice Paul was a person of unimaginable courage who made America more democratic by fighting for equal rights and creating opportunities for women to participate in politics,” said Rep. Baca.  “Even after her death, her influence continues to be significant on our society and culture.  The actions of Alice Paul helped to break the glass ceiling and pave the way for minorities and women in public office.  We would not have our first female Speaker of the House if it had not been for the precedent she and other suffragists helped set.”

Rep. Baca first introduced legislation to award Alice Paul the Congressional Gold Medal in 2005.  The legislation garnered near unanimous, bipartisan support in the 110th Congress with 406 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.  This is the most co-sponsor support in history for any Congressional Gold Medal act.  But since the legislation did not pass the U.S. Senate, it must be reintroduced in the current 111th Congress.

Alice Paul spearheaded the effort to pass the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting all American women the right to vote. Her courage inspired thousands of women to join the women’s suffrage movement. She was among the first group to ever picket the White House and later embarked on a three-week hunger strike with her fellow suffragists when they were arrested for their cause.  In addition,  Alice Paul drafted the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923 and fought tirelessly for its passage until her death in 1977. 

“Those of us who already know of Alice Paul’s contributions are eager to bring greater awareness and appropriate recognition of her legacy,” concluded Rep. Baca.  “The America we know today would not have been possible without her.  She is a true hero, and it is a fitting and overdue honor to bestow her with the Congressional Gold Medal.”

The National Council of Women’s Organizations, the Alice Paul Institute, the National Woman’s Party/Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, the League of Women Voters, MANA, 4ERA and the National Organization of Women (NOW) all support H.R. 406.