On March 20, the House passed, by voice vote, H.R. 382, the 100 years of Women in Congress Act, sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY). The legislation recognizes Jeannette Rankin (R-MT), the first woman elected to Congress in 1916, as a pioneer for women in politics and science.
The bill would allow grants under the “Jeannette Rankin Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program” to be used to encourage women and minorities in rural areas to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
The bill also notes that a total of 109 women serve in the 115th Congress, comprising only 20 percent of congressional seats. Although the representation of women is a milestone in our nation’s history, the legislation declares that there is still more to be done.
