Women's History Month, 2014

Vol. 79

Friday,

No. 45

March 7, 2014

Part III

The President

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Proclamation 9088--Women's History Month, 2014

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 9088 of March 1, 2014

Women's History Month, 2014

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Throughout our Nation's history, American women have
led movements for social and economic justice, made
groundbreaking scientific discoveries, enriched our
culture with stunning works of art and literature, and
charted bold directions in our foreign policy. They
have served our country with valor, from the
battlefields of the Revolutionary War to the deserts of
Iraq and mountains of Afghanistan. During Women's
History Month, we recognize the victories, struggles,
and stories of the women who have made our country what
it is today.

This month, we are reminded that even in America,
freedom and justice have never come easily. As part of
a centuries-old and ever-evolving movement, countless
women have put their shoulder to the wheel of
progress--activists who gathered at Seneca Falls and
gave expression to a righteous cause; trailblazers who
defied convention and shattered glass ceilings;
millions who claimed control of their own bodies,
voices, and lives. Together, they have pushed our
Nation toward equality, liberation, and acceptance of
women's right--not only to choose their own destinies--
but also to shape the futures of peoples and nations.

Through the grit and sacrifice of generations, American
women and girls have gained greater opportunities and
more representation than ever before. Yet they continue
to face workplace discrimination, a higher risk of
sexual assault, and an earnings gap that will cost the
average woman hundreds of thousands of dollars over the
course of her working lifetime.

As women fight for their seats at the head of the
table, my Administration offers our unwavering support.
The first bill I signed as President was the Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which made it easier for women
to challenge pay discrimination. Under the Affordable
Care Act, we banned insurance companies from charging
women more because of their gender, and we continue to
defend this law against those who would let women's
bosses influence their health care decisions. Last
year, recognizing a storied history of patriotic and
courageous service in our Armed Forces, the United
States military opened ground combat units to women in
uniform. We are also encouraging more girls to explore
their passions for science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics and taking action to create economic
opportunities for women across the globe. Last fall, we
finalized a rule to extend overtime and minimum wage
protections to homecare workers, 90 percent of whom are
women. And this January, I launched a White House task
force to protect students from sexual assault.

As we honor the many women who have shaped our history,
let us also celebrate those who make progress in our
time. Let us remember that when women succeed, America
succeeds. And from Wall Street to Main Street, in the
White House and on Capitol Hill--let us put our Nation
on the path to success.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim March 2014 as Women's
History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe
this month

and to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8,
2014, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities. I also invite all Americans to visit
www.WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the
generations of women who have left enduring imprints on
our history.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
eighth.