Patrick Kennedy

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, on this day 75 years ago, the League of Women Voters was formally established. The League of Women Voters of Rhode Island grew out of the Rhode Island Equal Suffrage Association and was organized on October 8, 1920. The first year was spent uniting all suffrage groups in Rhode Island and recruiting new members. In the league's second year, units were set up in most Rhode Island communities in order for women to conduct study meetings and take local action. Some of the issues the league got involved in at the time were the child labor Law, equal pay for equal work, and equalization of educational and economic opportunities. In 1945, a move was begun to make units into independent local leagues and with that leagues were born all over the State of Rhode Island, including in Providence, Newport, South Kingston, Narragansett, Barrington, East Providence, and Bristol. Mr. Speaker, in Rhode Island the league has worked along with other groups, and it is important that today we recognize their efforts.