WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Women in History
Madeleine sentatives. Since taking
Albright One of office, her top
Albright Pelosi’s first priorities have
made history in legislative vic- been resource
1997 when she tories was the development,
was nominated creation of the education and
by President Housing workforce
Clinton and con- Opportunities development,
firmed by the for People public health
Senate to be the with AIDS and safety, and
64th Secretary of program. She transportation
State, the nation’s top diplomat. She has also and infrastructure development.
was the first woman ever to hold that worked to accelerate development of Under her leadership, Alaska invest-
office and the highest-ranking woman an HIV vaccine, expand access to Med- ed more than $5 billion in state savings,
in the history of the U.S. government. icaid for people living with HIV, and increased education funding, and
As Secretary of State, Albright helped increase funding for the Ryan White implemented the Senior Benefits Pro-
shape American policies in critical CARE Act, the Minority HIV/AIDS gram that provides support for low-
areas like the Middle East, China, Initiative and other programs vital to income older Alaskans. She created
Bosnia and Kosovo. people living with or at risk for Alaska’s Petroleum Systems Integrity
Madeleine Albright currently serves HIV/AIDS. Office to provide oversight and mainte-
as Chairman of the National Democrat- Pelosi also successfully increased nance of oil and gas equipment, facili-
ic Institute for International Affairs. She access to health insurance for people ties and infrastructure, and the Climate
has shared the highlights of her unusu- with disabilities by ensuring continua- Change Subcabinet to prepare a cli-
al life and her experiences at the White tion of their health care coverage. She mate change strategy for Alaska. She
House and the State Department in was instrumental in passing legislation also established the Rural Subcabinet
two recent books: Madam Secretary: A to assist nonprofit organizations in the to create stronger, safer and healthier
Memoir and her latest, The Mighty & creation of affordable housing. communities in the state’s outlying
The Almighty-Reflections on America, God As a member of the House Perma- regions.
and World Affairs. nent Select Committee on Intelligence
Since leaving the State Department for 10 years (the longest continuous Ida B.Wells Barnett
at the end of President Clinton’s sec- period of service in the committee’s (1862-1931)
ond term in 2001, Madeleine Albright history) including two years as the African-American educator, news-
has not abandoned her interest in for- Ranking Democrat, Pelosi worked to paperwoman, anti-lynching campaign-
eign policy. She believes the United ensure that policymakers and military er, founder NAACP. African-American
States has a unique role to play on the commanders are provided with the educator, newspaperwoman, anti-
world stage, but that role, she says, timely and accurate intelligence neces- lynching campaigner, founder NAACP.
must be in partnership with other sary to guide diplomatic initiatives, While living in Memphis, Wells
nations. succeed in combat, and protect U.S. became an editor and co-owner of a
military forces. local black newspaper called “The Free
Nancy Pelosi Speech and Headlight.” She wrote her
Nancy Pelosi is the first woman in Sara Palin editorials under the pen-name “Iola.”
American history to lead a major party Sarah Palin made history on Dec. 4, formed the Women’s Era Club, the first
in the U.S. Congress. Before being 2006, when she took office as the civic organization for African-Ameri-
elected Leader, she served as House youngest governor in Alaska history at can women. The name was later
Democratic Whip for one year and was 42 years of age, and the first woman. changed to the Ida B. Wells Club in
responsible for the party’s legislative During the 2008 presidential campaign, honor of its founder. In 1909, Barnett
strategy in the House. On January 4, she became the first Alaskan and the was asked to be a member of the
2007, Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker first woman to be nominated for vice “Committee of 40,” which established
of the United States House of Repre- president by the Republican Party. the groundwork for the organization
www.professionalwomanmag.com PROFESSIONAL WOMAN’S MAGAZINE 57
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