Women’s History Month is a yearly celebration of women’s impact upon the world. Though the celebration lasts through the month of March to coincide with International Women’s Day, it is important to remember to celebrate and respect women at all times. The world would not be what it is today without the contributions of amazing women.

Women’s History Month had its origins in 1911 when the first official International Women’s Day took place, with over one million people celebrating across the globe. Beginning in 1980, then-President Jimmy Carter declared that the week of March 8, 1980 would be celebrated as National Women’s History Week in order to promote the unsung accomplishments that many women had undertaken throughout the history of the United States. In the following year, Rep. Barbara Mikulski and Sen. Orrin Hatch co-sponsored legislation creating a Women’s History Week, with Congress designating a week in March for Women’s History Week each following year.

In 1987, Congress passed a resolution that designated March as Women’s History Month after petitioning from the National Women’s History Project. Every year since 1987, the sitting U.S. President has issued an annual proclamation stating that March is Women’s History Month. This year, the focus of Women’s History Month, as stated in President Biden’s proclamation, is to honor the women who have faced the COVID-19 pandemic head-on and fought in many different capacities.

Thank you to all the amazing women across the United States and the world for making it a better place, and continuing to be strong in the face of adversity.