1898-1998 100 Years of Professional Social Work Jeanette Rankin 1880-1973 "A Call to Action" Portrayed by Victoria Paey

I am Jeanette Rankin. I was the first woman elected to Congress. I am a social worker. As one of your foremothers, I am pleased to present the concluding remarks during your commemorative celebration.

When I was a young woman, I worked for a time in foster care in Montana and Washington state. I was concerned about the plight of women and children. If you were a woman, or a child, you were at the mercy of systems designed by people with money to serve the people like them.

Then, on a trip to San Francisco, I discovered the settlement house movement. I could see that to really change things for people, we needed to change systems.

As a first step, I obtained a social work degree from what is now Columbia University School of Social Work.

I knew that I could help the plight of women and children better through social reforms -- by changing social policy.

My, what a radical idea that was! And it was a woman’s idea !!

So, I ran for -- for Congress!!

And I won !!

I was the first woman elected to Congress !!

And then, I did it again, 24 years later !!

Social work gave me muscle to organize, campaign, win, and take on the challenge of public service. Social work ethics gave me backbone to stand for what was right.

I won some. I lost some.

In my first term, I sponsored a bill to allow American women who married foreign nationals to retain their US citizenship and another to provide funds to educate women about venereal disease and birth control.

I introduced another for maternal and infant health services. There was opposition but we were undaunted. President Harding signed the bill in 1921. The services were so successful that in eight years, maternal and infant mortality rates had improved significantly.

Health is one thing. Political power is another. I had worked for voting rights at home. So I introduced the Nineteenth Amendment in Congress. The amendment was ratified in 1920.

I won some. I lost some.

Because I believe strongly that women’s welfare is inseparable from the peace issue, I was the only member of Congress to vote against the nation’s entry into World War I and World War II. I cast the lone vote opposing a declaration of war on Japan following Pearl Harbor. My vote was so unpopular, I had to call the US Capitol Police to escort me back to my office through an angry mob.

By the time I was 88, my peace efforts began to win me a little appreciation! In 1968 I lead the Jeanette Rankin Brigade in the women’s march on Washington opposing the war in Vietnam. That march took place right here were you are gathered now. Included among 5,000 women in our brigade were Coretta Scott King and folk singer Judy Collins.

I lived 93 years -- much of this century; most of social work’s first 100 years. And, I have this to say to you.

The child of the past ( -- I knew that child -- ) worked in sweat shop bondage, broke coal in the mine. She wanted to go to school. He was too poor. She was orphaned, alone. He was sick. And, during these first 100 years, social workers made their lives better. We really did advanced the cause of social justice and of peace.

The child of the future reminds us that there is still more to do. Three billion children in the world, and only the tiniest portion healthy, and happy!

I implore you to fan the embers in the coal, light the fire in yourselves to complete the changes needed in this country and the world!

I did my part. I know it can be done again....And now, you are here.

It’s simple to balance a budget, if you are willing to be cruel enough. Sanction enough people for being late or missing training, drop enough families and the declining welfare rolls give officials boasting rights.

Your modern saying "You’ve come a long way baby" is only partially true. For our babies, we need to go much further.

But children are hungry, again. Families lose their homes, again. The ailing walk the streets, again. Children work the streets, again. The poor stay poor.

Each year more than three million children are victims of abuse and neglect in the US, alone -- and at least three die daily as a result.

Wars and famines, still, kill hundreds of thousands in conflicts around the globe. Lack of good water, health care, and basic education deny the world’s children their promise.

You know the stories. This is why you are social workers -- professional social workers.

As always, there is action we can take today. On the table over here to my right, send your message to Congress calling for federal managed care standards. Health care decisions should be made by consumers and providers, not a board of directors.

Your foremothers and forefathers are issuing the call to action for the next 100 years. We are proud that you carry the ember for us. There are future fires to light. We go beyond charity to change.

Let us make the bi-centennial celebration of social work more grand than today!

I commend you -- those gathered here -- for your involvement, for your commitment. For your covenant with humankind.