WASHINGTON, March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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MONDAY, MARCH 4: JEANNETTE RANKIN

Profile America — Monday, March 4th.  The first woman to serve in Congress took her seat on this date in 1917.  Jeannette Rankin of Montana shortly became one of the few representatives to vote against entry into World War I, a stand that contributed to her defeat when she ran for the Senate in 1918.  She reentered Congress in 1940, and putting her principles ahead of office-holding, cast the lone vote against declaring war on Japan after Pearl Harbor in 1941.  Her political career, which began before women gained the right to vote, ended with her term.  More than 46 percent of female citizens over 18 voted in the 2010 congressional election, and nearly 67 percent report being registered to vote.  Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:   Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
                U.S. Census Bureau, Voting & Registration, Table 6 

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotions of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).   

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau