Rep. Brinks offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 325.

            A resolution to declare August 26, 2016, as Women’s Equality Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was certified, securing for women the fundamental right to vote; and

            Whereas, Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle resulting in a victory that took decades of agitation and protest; and

            Whereas, Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations  of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change of the Constitution; and

            Whereas, The 19th amendment passed its final hurdle of obtaining the agreement of three-fourths of the states with Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certifying its ratification on August 26, 1920, changing the face of the American electorate forever; and

            Whereas, August 26, 2016, is the 96th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; and

            Whereas, The 19th Amendment guarantees citizens of the United States rights and

privileges available to all citizens equally regardless of sex; and

            Whereas, Michigan joined Illinois and Wisconsin as the first states to ratify the 19th Amendment on June 10, 1919; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare August 26, 2016, as Women’s Equality Day in the state of Michigan. We call upon the people of Michigan to celebrate the achievements of women and promote gender equality in our state.