House Passes Bill to Name Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Program after First Woman Member of Congress

Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement after the House passed the 100 Years of Women in Congress Act. The bill honors late Republican Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin from Montana – the first woman member of Congress—and names the U.S. Department of Agriculture Women and Minorities STEM Fields program as the ‘Jeanette Rankin Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program.’

“Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, who also once called Spokane home, is an inspiration and a trailblazer,” said McMorris Rodgers. “She made waves in a male-dominated environment and paved the way for today’s historic 104 women in Congress. It’s now our opportunity to carry her torch, and encourage more women in all fields to come to the table and inspire the next generation of female leaders.

“Although a majority of elementary school girls say they like science and math, only a fraction of college engineering majors are female. STEM is not a boys’ field or a girls’ field – it’s the growing future of our economy, and it’s time to level the playing field so women can keep making history for centuries to come.”