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WHEELING -- Women played an integral role in the formation of America, Rep. David McKinley told West Virginia Rhododendron Girls State attendees Sunday evening in Wheeling, and it's up to the young women of today to make a similar mark on the world they will be entering.
About 350 incoming high school female seniors are attending the 75th annual Girls State at Wheeling Jesuit University, and McKinley, R-W.Va., offered the opening comments for the event, which runs through Friday.
He spoke of America's "foremothers" -- women behind the nation's forefathers without whom America may not have existed. Among them was Martha Washington, who accompanied husband George Washington to battle camps during the American Revolution and provided comfort, care and nursing to soldiers.
Following his speech, the students broke off into groups to begin the process of learning how government operates.
They will take classes on federal, state and local government, taught by local leaders.
In addition, the students -- they are known as "citizens" during their week in Wheeling -- will form their own government by registering to vote, filing for office and conducting elections.
A slate of elected young women headed by next year's Girls State governor will be chosen.
Because 2017 is the diamond anniversary of Rhododendron Girls State, the theme of this year's gathering is "leave a little sparkle wherever you go."
Rhododendron Girls State officials honored two veteran mentors in the organization during Sunday night's festivities who have been with Girls State for at least 50 years.
Betty Ray, of Follansbee, has been assisting in the event every year since 1963; and past director Irene Weber, of Berkeley Springs, has been involved since 1968.
McKinley also spoke prior to the event about happenings in Washington. He said the House is waiting on the Senate to complete work on the overhaul of Obamacare so it next can begin work on tax reform.
Changes made to the Affordable Care Act by the House are estimated to save American taxpayers $135 billion over 10 years, according to McKinley. He said this money would be figured in as the House begins work on changing federal tax laws.
"Immediately after we get the health care bill done we're going to pivot into tax reform," McKinley said.
This past week, the House passed the Financial Choice Act -- a measure that reforms many of the financial regulations and policies imposed under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. McKinley said this action by the House was very important in that it will relieve much of the bureaucracy placed on smaller banks and credit unions and will allow them to compete.
"We've now passed more bills out of the House that have been … in years," he said. "We have to dispel this notion that we're doing nothing. We're actually getting some things done.
"Not to criticize the Senate, but we're getting a lot of things out of the House and over to the Senate, and now it's up to them."