Whereas the purpose of National Women’s History Month is to increase awareness and knowledge of women’s involvement in history; Whereas, as recently as the 1970s, women’s history was rarely included in the kindergarten through grade 12 curriculum and was not part of public awareness; Whereas the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a Women’s History Week celebration in 1978 centered around International Women’s History Day, which is celebrated on March 8; Whereas in 1980, the National Women’s History Project was founded in Sonoma County, California, by Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett, and Bette Morgan to broadcast women’s historical achievements; Whereas National Women’s History Project co-founder Mary Ruthsdotter, who passed away in January 2010, was a leader in the effort to ensure the inclusion of women’s accomplishments in the Nation’s history; Whereas in 1981, responding to the growing popularity of women’s history celebrations, Congress passed a resolution making Women’s History Week a national observance; Whereas during this time, using information provided by the National Women’s History Project, founded in Sonoma County, California, thousands of schools and communities joined in the commemoration of National Women’s History Week, with support and encouragement from governors, city councils, school boards, and Congress; Whereas in 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to include the entire month of March; Whereas educators, workplace program planners, parents, and community organizations in thousands of communities in the United States under the guidance of the National Women’s History Project, have turned National Women’s History Month into a major local learning experience and celebration; Whereas the popularity of women’s history celebrations has sparked a new interest in uncovering women’s forgotten heritage