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Senate asks governor to proclaim March 2025 as Women’s History Month; senators highlight milestones and remaining gaps
Summary
The New York State Senate adopted a resolution urging Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2025 as Women’s History Month and used the floor debate to cite historical milestones and contemporary policy gaps affecting women.
The New York State Senate on March 3 adopted a resolution memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2025 as Women’s History Month in New York, and senators used lengthy floor remarks to commemorate historic and contemporary women leaders while noting ongoing policy challenges.
Resolution 4 39, presented by Senate leaders, recited milestones from Seneca Falls and Sojourner Truth to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and others and noted the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Senators across the chamber highlighted historical figures and local examples — and several speakers tied the observance to current legislative priorities, including maternal‑health outcomes and representation in government.
Senator Webb urged lawmakers to pair commemoration with policy work on pay equity, maternal‑mortality disparities and reproductive autonomy. Senator Cantoneri Fitzpatrick referenced pioneering women from her district and urged legislators to model possibilities for future generations. The resolution was carried to a vote and adopted by voice vote; subsequent remarks welcomed NAACP leadership guests and asked that copies be transmitted to the governor and to the Legislative Women’s Caucus.
The floor debate combined ceremonial history with policy appeals; senators repeatedly referenced both 19th‑century suffragists and contemporary firsts — such as firsts on the U.S. Supreme Court and federal cabinet offices — to connect the monthlong observance to legislation the chamber continues to consider.
