Senate Resolution No. 293 commemorates the 143rd anniversary of the birth of Minnie Fisher Cunningham, a pioneering activist who significantly contributed to the women's suffrage movement. Born in 1882 in New Waverly, Texas, Cunningham was one of the first women in the state to earn a pharmacy degree. After marrying Beverly "Bill" Cunningham, she became deeply involved in social reform, leading the Galveston Equal Suffrage Association and later serving as president of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association. Under her leadership, the organization grew to 10,000 members, and she played a crucial role in securing the right to vote for Texas women in state primary elections. Her efforts extended to lobbying Congress for the 19th Amendment, making Texas the first southern state to ratify it.

Cunningham's influence continued beyond suffrage; she was a founding member of the National League of Women Voters and advocated for the Sheppard-Towner Maternity and Infancy Act, the first social welfare measure in the U.S. She also ventured into party politics, running for the U.S. Senate in 1928 and the governorship in 1944, while supporting the New Deal initiatives during the Roosevelt administration. After returning to her family farm, she remained active in progressive causes, including the establishment of the Texas Observer and managing local efforts for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign. The resolution honors her legacy and the lasting impact of her work on the empowerment of American women.