November 24, 2014


WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo Counties), Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Congressman George Miller (CA-11) sent a letter last Friday to the President and Vice President requesting they designate an annual Rosie the Riveter Day. The Californians were joined on this letter by 42 other Members of Congress.

“Rosie the Riveter was more than a poster. She embodied women across the country who answered the call to action in World War II by providing the weaponry and ammunition that literally ended the war,” said Rep. Speier. “I have met with real life Rosies, and their strength and courage sets a high bar for generations to come. A national day to commemorate the service of these 6 million women is only fitting.”

“The ‘Rosie the Riveters’ played a pivotal role in our nation’s history and proved that women can do anything a man can do. They stepped up in a time of great need and helped win a war, all while building the foundation for future generations of American women to succeed,” Rep. Huffman said. “An annual National Rosie the Riveter Day would a fitting honor for these remarkable women and an important reminder that they are American heroes.”

"The ‘Rosies’ are a symbol of the determination, resourcefulness, and spirit that make America strong,” said Rep. Miller. “An annual National Rosie the Riveter Day would be a fitting honor for the women who aided in the war effort by working on the home front. It also would rightly recognize the improvements in the workplace during the Rosie the Riveter era, and encourage Americans to study and celebrate the women symbolized by Rosie.”

###



November 20, 2014


The Honorable Barack Obama
President
The United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

The Honorable Joe Biden
Vice President
The United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President and Mr. Vice President:

This spring, you both met with some of the real “Rosie the Riveters” who worked and sacrificed to strengthen this country during World War II. These women are among our nation’s greatest living heroines, and we know that you share our admiration for them. To honor the important contributions of women on the Home Front during World War II, and to inspire future generations with their can-do spirit, we ask that you designate an annual National Rosie the Riveter Day.

The example that these women set during World War II continues to inspire us and blaze a path for today’s working women. During World War II, these women answered our nation’s call to action: the more women who joined the workforce, the sooner we could win the war. The “Rosies” showed they could work, and succeed, in the same jobs as the men who went to fight on the front lines. They literally provided the vehicles, weaponry, and ammunition to win the war. African-American women overcame long-held policies of discrimination and made significant contributions to the war effort. And because of the “Rosies,” federal, state, and local agencies coordinated with business owners to develop child care programs and other supports for working mothers.

The images of “Rosie the Riveter” and the phrase “We Can Do It” continue to symbolize women’s empowerment today, representing patriotic women who want to serve and strengthen their country. We know you will agree that our country should continue to honor these brave women, and we ask that you designate an annual National Rosie the Riveter Day.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.


Sincerely,




Jackie Speier                             
Jared Huffman                            
George Miller

Rosa Delauro
Doris O. Matsui
Anna G. Eshoo                    
Henry A. Waxman
Barbara Lee                        
Gwen Moore    
Carolyn B. Maloney                    
John Garamendi
Sander Levin                        
Zoe Lofgren
Frederica Wilson                    
Luis Gutiérrez
Janice Hahn                        
Sheila Jackson Lee    
Raúl Grijalva                        
Alan Lowenthal
Sam Farr                        
Marcy Kaptur
John Yarmuth                        
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
Cheri Bustos                        
Lois Frankel
Ann McLane Kuster                    
Betty McCollum
Keith Ellison                        
Stephen F. Lynch
Mike Thompson                    
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Raul Ruiz                        
David Cicilline
Niki Tsongas                        
Jan Schakowsky
Dina Titus                        
Kathy Castor    
Linda Sánchez                        
Kyrsten Sinema
Mark Takano                        
Ted Deutch
Julia Brownley                    
Katherine Clark
Tony Cárdenas                    
Scott Peters