02/29/2000 08:10 AM House STA

HCR 19-WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH/WOMEN'S DAY                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR JAMES announced that the order  of business under discussion                                                              
now is HOUSE  CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19, Designating  the month                                                              
of March as Women's History Month  and urging all Alaskans to join                                                              
in the celebration of International  Women's Day on March 8, 2000.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Number 2103                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES said HCR 19  is a resolution that identifies                                                              
March 2000  as Women's  History Month.   He noted  that HCR  19 is                                                              
straightforward  and observes  that  women  have made  significant                                                              
contributions   in  history.      He  acknowledged   that   people                                                              
occasionally have  undervalued, under reported, and  generally not                                                              
been aware  of contributions that  women have made because  of the                                                              
way that history is written.  He  explained that HCR 19 is a small                                                              
step in  an attempt  to recognize  women's contributions  and asks                                                              
the legislature to designate March as Women's History Month.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES  offered one small personal story  as to why                                                              
HCR 19  is important.   He mentioned  that a  few days  ago Alaska                                                              
celebrated Elizabeth  Peratrovich Day.   He explained that  he had                                                              
called his  wife, who is  a teacher, and  asked if there  had been                                                              
any  recognition   of  Elizabeth  Peratrovich  Day   in  Fairbanks                                                              
schools.    He  found that  there were  none because  most of  the                                                              
teachers were  not even  aware that  it was Elizabeth  Peratrovich                                                              
Day.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAVIES recognized  that Alaska has played a leading                                                              
role  in  many  areas  of social  justice  and  yet  many  Alaskan                                                              
children grow  up unaware of that  role.  He observed that  HCR 19                                                              
would  be  one  small  step  in  raising  the  issue  to  people's                                                              
consciousness  so  that appropriate  school  curriculum  materials                                                              
might be  added to school  districts, for  example.   He requested                                                              
the committee's support for HCR 19.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Number 1954                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON wondered if  there should be some mention of                                                              
the role  that women  have played  in the  defense of our  nation.                                                              
Representative  Hudson  made  a  motion  to move  HCR  19  out  of                                                              
committee with individual recommendations  and asked for unanimous                                                              
consent.   There being no objection,  HCR 19 moved from  the House                                                              
Sate Affairs Standing Committee.