Legislating in Heels--An Anecdotal Journal: The Honorable Constance "Connie" Morella

In her talk, Connie Morella recounted tales from her trajectory from Maryland's state senate to the U.S. House of Representatives and onward to an ambassadorship for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This is a tribute to all women for National Women's History Month, featuring stories of historic firsts for women. Although many in the audience were familiar with the first woman congresswoman, Jeanette Rankin, no one could name the first woman in this country to ask for the right to vote. Also enlightening to everyone present was the "Coya, Come Home" letter.

Speaker Biography: As ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development from 2003 to 2007, Connie Morella was a key participant in developing an enlargement strategy for the program, resulting in the addition of five rapidly developing countries, including Brazil, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa. During her tenure as congresswoman from Maryland's 8th Congressional District between 1987 and 2003, Rep. Morella chaired the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, sponsoring the 1992 Battered Women's Testimony Act and the Judicial Training Act, both having important repercussions for women in the court system due to domestic violence. Morella also served in the Maryland House of Delegates from the 16th District.

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Education

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