House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., began the session by noting that 100 years ago the first women who ever voted in a national convention were delegates in Denver.

"We celebrate another milestone," she said, "For the first time ever, the majority of delegates are women. ... Barack Obama is our candidate to deliver the change we need."

The eight female representatives read women's letters expressing concerns about affordable healthcare, education, energy and gasoline prices, treatment of war veterans and household finances.

"These women are all saying the same thing," said Rep. Lois Capps of California. "We can't afford four more years (of leadership) that got us into these problems in the first place."