[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 48 (Monday, March 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  Ms. ERNST. Madam President, in this country we are so blessed to call 
home, every woman, no matter her background--like growing up on a small 
farm in Iowa--can be the next first.
  After serving in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National 
Guard--a historically male field--I became the first female combat 
veteran elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. I was also the first woman 
to represent the great State of Iowa in Congress. Now, just 6 years 
later, women make up a majority of the Iowa congressional delegation. 
Iowa is also blessed with a fierce female Governor in Kim Reynolds and 
some extremely talented and strong women leaders in our State 
legislature. Today, there are over 140 women serving in Congress--more 
than ever before in U.S. history.
  Because of the suffragettes and so many other determined women who 
stepped up and broke the barriers society placed on us, female 
trailblazers across this country are writing new pages in history books 
every single day. Women have made strides in the boardroom, on the 
playing field, in the military, and through elected office.
  But this pandemic has been tough on women in the workforce, 
threatening to derail the progress we have made. Before COVID, women 
made up the majority of the U.S. workforce, but 1 year later, women 
have lost over 2 million jobs--nearly 1 million more than our male 
counterparts.
  There are many reasons for this but two major factors. First, moms 
tend to be the sole caregivers in the family. With schools going remote 
and childcare centers closing, working moms have been forced to choose 
between their careers and their children. Second, women tend to work in 
fields that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, such as the 
hospitality industry, restaurants, education, and retail.
  We absolutely need to focus on getting these women back into the 
workforce and on their feet so that they can support themselves and 
their families. The focus needs to be on three things: first, safely 
reopening our schools; second, expanding access to childcare, which I 
have worked with the Presiding Officer on--thank you very much; and 
producing, distributing, and administering the vaccine as quickly as 
possible so folks can get back to work safely.
  If I were able to choose the theme for Women's History Month based 
off of this past year struggling through the pandemic, it would be 
``Overcomer.'' Woman to woman, we all, no matter what we do, are 
overcomers by nature.
  Moms, you overcome so much every single day when you work tirelessly 
at the thankless and never-ending job of caring for your children and 
for your families. You have the one and only job that you cannot simply 
clock out of, especially this year, when many of you had to balance 
being a teacher for the first time in your life.
  Women in the workforce, you overcome stereotypes daily and have 
continued to smash glass ceilings and set new standards in corporate 
America. Your resilience and strength alongside our historic women's 
rights heroes continue to shape a bright future for all young girls 
across this country.
  In honor of Women's History Month, I challenge everyone to remember 
the sacrifices it took to secure the freedoms and opportunities we 
women enjoy today and continue to build on these opportunities for the 
next generation.
  Whether that is in your local community or State or Federal 
Government, we are a better nation because of the contributions of 
women in all walks of life, in all fields of service, and in both 
Chambers of Congress, and it is important to continue to remind folks 
of that.
  It is my hope that each and every young woman, no matter your 
hometown or your background, will see the opportunity and potential 
that lie ahead. Many of us have heard this really outdated quote: ``Act 
like a lady, but think like a man.'' Well, I think history has proven 
that, instead, we should say: ``Act like a woman, and think like a 
woman'' because we are powerful, we are fearless, we are smart, and we 
are strong just the way we are.
  I yield the floor.

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