Today, the White House announced the appointment of Kay Cole James to be a member of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission.
James has decades of experience in public life, private life, and academia. She currently serves as the president of the Heritage Foundation. Previously, James served as Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under President George W. Bush and in the administration of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. James also founded The Gloucester Institute, an educational and leadership training organization for young African Americans.
James joins Heather R. Higgins, CEO of IWV and Chairman of sister organization IWF, on the commission as well as Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch.
The bipartisan national Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission is comprised of 14 women who will develop and execute programs and activities to commemorate the centennial of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 2020. Known as the amendment which gave women the right to vote, this amendment specifically prohibits the federal government and states from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote on account of sex.
In a previous statement announcing her appointment Higgins noted the importance of the commission,
“Women contribute so much to the proud history in our country. It's important that their story is told and celebrated by those in our time, inspiring those contributions to continue into the future…”
“Women of both parties did so much to advance the cause of liberty, equality, and human dignity. And women are essential to creating not only the opportunities that we enjoy today but the even better tomorrow we all want as well.”
As we look ahead to celebrating 100 years of the women’s vote, we look forward to how this commission will engage women across the political spectrum to bring greater freedom and opportunity to women over the next 100 years.