[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13] [House] [Pages 18489-18491] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING MARY ELIZA MAHONEY, AMERICA'S FIRST PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED AFRICAN-AMERICAN NURSE Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 386) honoring Mary Eliza Mahoney, America's first professionally trained African-American nurse, as amended. The Clerk read as follows: H. Con. Res. 386 Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney was born May 7, 1845, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, to Charles Mahoney and Mary Jane Seward Mahoney; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney, at the age of 33, was accepted as a student nurse at the hospital-based program of nursing at the New England Hospital for Women and Children; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney was one of four students, of a class of 40, who completed nursing at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in 1879; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney devoted her time and efforts unselfishly to the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses and was installed as the Official Chaplin; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney's motto was ``Work more and better the coming year than the previous year.''; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney delivered the first annual key note speech of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses and established the Mary Eliza award, which today continues as the Mary Eliza Mahoney Award bestowed biennially by the American Nurses Association; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney supported the suffrage movement and was the first African-American professionally trained nurse to receive retirement benefits from a fund left by a Boston physician to care for 60 nurses, who received twenty- five dollars every three months as long as they lived; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney's gravesite is in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts, and the headstone on her grave states, ``The First Professional Negro Nurse in the U.S.A.''; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in 1976; Whereas Mary Eliza Mahoney advanced the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice and confronting issues affecting professional nurses, such as the shortage of nurses; Whereas today the shortage of nurses is a crisis, estimated to be 110,000 nurses, and is expected to increase to 2,800,000 by 2020 if this trend continues; and Whereas nursing is a critical investment to the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective patient care, and the Nation should invest in and value nursing care: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress-- (1) honors Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first African-American nurse for an outstanding nursing career, dedication to the United States nursing profession, and exemplary contributions to local and national professional nursing organizations; (2) recognizes Mary Eliza Mahoney as the first professionally trained African-American nurse, and honors other African-American nurses who practice nursing with distinction; (3) honors and supports the goals and activities of National Nurses Week; (4) promotes further understanding and public awareness of the history of American nurses, who practiced nursing with compassion and devotion and transmitted new scientific knowledge using science-based nursing practice; and (5) advocates for women of color to enter nursing and supports strategies to counteract the shortage of nurses. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia. General Leave Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material to the bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia? There was no objection. [[Page 18490]] Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 386, honoring Mary Eliza Mahoney, as America's first professionally trained African American nurse. Born in 1845, Mary Eliza Mahoney lived with her parents, Charles Mahoney and Mary Jane Steward Mahoney. For 15 years, Mary Eliza worked alternately as a cook, janitor, washerwoman, and an unofficial nurse's assistant at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In 1878, at the age of 33, she was admitted as a student into the hospital's nursing program. After graduation, 16 months later, Mary Eliza worked primarily as a private-duty nurse. Her nursing career ended as director of an orphanage in Long Island, New York, a position she had held for over a decade. As the resolution states, Mary Eliza Mahoney's motto was always, ``Work more and better the coming year than the previous year.'' Mahoney also recognized the need of nurses for nurses to work together to improve the status of African Americans in the profession. In 1908, she was the cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. Mahoney gave the welcoming address at the first convention of NACGN and served as the association's national chaplain. She became an inspiration to all nurses and helped make it possible for the members of the NACGN to be received at the White House by President Warren G. Harding. Ms. Mahoney died in 1926. Because of her dedication and untiring will to inspire future generations, she has been an inspiration to thousands who are a part of the nursing profession. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the author of this resolution, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, for her leadership in honoring this great American. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of the resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, it is not every day that we get to pay tribute to a truly special person that served our country like Mary Eliza Mahoney, America's first professionally trained African American nurse. I want to indicate my support for H. Con. Resolution 386 offered by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson honoring Mary Eliza Mahoney's outstanding nursing career, her dedication to the U.S. nursing profession, and exemplary contribution to local and national professional nursing organizations. Ms. Mahoney was born in 1845 and grew up in an era where many similarly situated African Americans did not have the opportunity for an education. Ms. Mahoney, however, enrolled in nursing school. In 1879, at the age of 34, she was one of only a handful of students in her class who graduated, and the only African American in her class. {time} 1515 Ms. Mahoney changed the face of nursing as the first African American woman. Afterwards, black students were accepted at school as long as they met the requirements. Not only did she pave the way for African Americans as nurses, she advocated for them. Moreover, she worked hard to counteract the nationwide shortage of nurses, which, of course, continues today. In 1896, Ms. Mahoney became one of the original members of a predominantly white nurses association, alumni of the United States and Canada, later known as the American Nurses Association, or ANA. In 1908, she was cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. In addition, Madam Speaker, she supported the voting rights amendment and was the first African American nurse to receive retirement benefits for her lifelong hard work and service to others. The contributions of people like Mary Eliza Mahoney should be remembered. She set an example more than a century ago that I hope many children today will follow: Work hard, follow your convictions and help others. The U.S. is expected to have a shortage of 2.8 million nurses by the year 2020, and Congress has to do a lot more to recognize the support, the work of America's nurses both through resolutions like these and through greater funding. Ms. Mahoney was a remarkable woman. We should not let what she fought for so long ago be for naught. That is why I think it is very important that we pass and support this resolution this afternoon. Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 386, honoring Mary Eliza Mahoney, America's first professionally trained African-American nurse. First, I would like to honor my mother, Ivalita Jackson, who served as a vocational nurse while she raised her children. With her nurturing hand and wise mind, she instilled in me a strong work ethic, a value of education, and a compelling desire toward public service. Her lifetime of hard work, and her commitment to giving and healing remains an inspiration to me. Mary Eliza Mahoney was born on May 7th, 1845 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Mary became interested in nursing as a teenager. Though she worked as a maid, washerwoman and cook at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Roxbury, Massachusetts for fifteen years, her dream was to practice nursing. The first step to realizing her dream came when, at the age of 33, Ms. Mahoney was accepted into the nursing school at the New England Hospital for Women and Children. One of only four students of a class of forty two to complete the nursing program, Mahoney received her nursing diploma on August 1, 1879. As such, she became the first African-American graduate nurse. This indeed, was a magnificent accomplishment at a time in this country when the odds were heavily stacked against her as an African-American, and as a woman. After graduation, Ms. Mahoney became a private duty nurse. Her employers consistently praised her for her calm and quiet efficiency and for her professionalism. Despite the odds, she proved that African-Americans could successfully enter into the world of professional nursing. She continues to be a source of inspiration to all nurses. Mahoney was one of the first African-American members of the organization that later became the American Nurses Association (A.N.A.). When the A.N.A. failed to actively admit black nurses, Mahoney strongly supported the establishment of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (N.A.C.G.N.). Mahoney recognized the inequalities in nursing education and called for a demonstration at the New England Hospital to have more African- American students admitted. For more than a decade after, Mahoney helped recruit nurses to join the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. Today, nursing is the nation's largest health care profession, with more than 2.7 million registered nurses nationwide. In 2003, 9.9 percent of registered nurses were African American. Ms. Mahoney was strongly concerned with women's equality and was a staunch supporter of the movement to give women the right to vote. At the age of 76, Ms. Mahoney was among the first women in Boston to register to vote after passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. At a time in our country when there is a nurse-shortage crisis, it is important to acknowledge the service and dedication of an outstanding American nurse. More than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012. Ms. Mahoney is a prime example of a professional woman who values and advocates for education, civil rights, and giving something of yourself for your community and for your nation. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring Mary Eliza Mahoney, America's first professionally trained African-American nurse. Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in honoring Mary Eliza Mahoney who was the first African-American registered nurse in the United States. She was a visionary, a leader, and because of her dedication and untiring will to encourage future generations, would become an inspiration to thousands of men and women of color who work diligently every day in the field of nursing. Mary Mahoney's interest in the nursing profession began when she was just a young girl. She worked for fifteen years at the New England Hospital for Women and Children (now Dimock Community Health Center) in [[Page 18491]] Roxbury, Massachusetts as a nurse's assistant, but this would not be her only occupation. She also worked as a cook, a janitor, and a washerwoman. In 1878, at the age of 33, she was admitted as a student into the hospital's nursing program established by Dr. Marie Zakrzewska. Sixteen months later, she was one of four who completed the course. After graduation she worked primarily as a private duty nurse for the next 30 years all over the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. At the culmination of her nursing career, she was the director of an orphanage in Long Island, New York, a position she held for 10 years. In 1896, Mahoney became one of the first African-American members of the predominantly white American Nurses Association (ANA). However, recognizing the need for nurses to work together to improve the status of African Americans in the profession, she helped to establish the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). This was important in many ways. It was because of her inspiring efforts and unselfish devotion to caring for others that helped make it possible for nurses to be received at the White House by President Warren G. Harding. Mahoney also gave the welcoming address at the first convention of the NACGN and served as the association's national chaplain. Mahoney's life of tending to the needs of the sick ended with her death on January 4, 1926. She was indeed an icon in the nursing profession, bringing to light the hard work, sacrifice, and commitment that nurses put forth everyday. My sister Frances was a nurse for many years before retiring, and I saw the hard work, the sacrifice, and long hours of commitment that she gave to this notable profession. She made me appreciate even more what nurses do and how they are a vital and valued part of the healthcare industry. Mary Mahoney advanced the nursing profession and was not afraid to confront issues that affect nurses. She was a woman of superlatively high standards, complete integrity, and boundless enthusiasm for whatever task she took in hand. It was because of the life she lived and her outstanding contributions to nursing, that The Mary Mahoney Medal was established in her honor posthumously by the NACGN in 1936. In 1976, she would be further remembered by being inducted into the Nursing Hall of Fame. Madam Speaker, let us honor this woman of courage and faith by passing this resolution. Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 386, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was agreed to. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________