Issues
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN'S WORKING GROUP | ||||
Every day Democratic women in Congress are working to ensure that a woman's voice is heard on issues including education, retirement security, reproductive health care and the environment.
Take a look at the issues we stand for:
New Reports: An Overview of the Congress’s Record on Key Women’s Issues &
Women and The Bush Economy - September 22, 2008
Many American women have suffered under the Bush economy – particularly the millions of women struggling to raise their children in female-headed households. Since President Bush has come into office, the female unemployment rate is up, the number of uninsured women is up, the median household income of female-headed families is down, and the number of female-headed families living in poverty is up. As family expenses continue to rise, many women and their families are struggling to make ends meet. Health Care
Democratic Women in Congress are committed to providing women and their families with affordable and comprehensive health care by increasing and improving women's health research and services. In February, Democratic women led the effort opposing the Bush Administration's plans to slash the budget for the Office of Women's Health. Throughout the 110th Congress, Democratic Congresswomen will continue to fight for women's access to affordable, high-quality health care.
The Environment
All Americans deserve a safe and clean environment, but the Administration is putting families' health at risk and placing our environmental protections in jeopardy. Dangerous pollutants like mercury and pesticides continue to pose serious health threats to communities across the country, and many of these pollutants are disproportionately harmful to women's health. Democratic women in the House are working to make sure that Federal programs assess and monitor environmental exposures and their specific risks to women's health.
Education
Education is the foundation of opportunity. A strong education system provides women across the country with the knowledge and training they need to be the successful leaders and innovators of tomorrow. Yet many women still face challenges in accessing equal education and athletic opportunities. Democratic women in Congress are working to make sure that women have access to the same opportunities that men do.
Employment
Despite successes in equal opportunity legislation, women still face a glass ceiling and a persistent pay gap with their male counterparts in the workforce. Working women today are paid an average of 80 cents for every dollar that men are paid, even when accounting for factors such as occupation, industry, race, marital status and job tenure. This gap has persisted for two decades. In Congress, Rep. Carolyn Maloney has joined with others to lead the charge to eliminate this gap by collaborating with businesses and women's organizations on solutions to the earnings gap, and publish yearly guides on best practices for employers and family friendly workplaces for women.
Women Around the World
Women around the world face similar struggles in their daily lives, families and communities. But conditions in many countries have sacrificed women's basic rights and left many in desperate situations. Democratic Women in Congress are working to specifically acknowledge and include these women in America's international initiatives. By providing financial support, awareness and understanding of women's rights and skills training, women will have a stronger foundation to restart their lives in ways that are independent, productive, and secure.
Ending Violence Against Women
Since 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has protected women from violence, abuse, sexual assault, and sexual predators. This landmark piece of legislation was a huge success for the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues and provided improved access to services and resources for victims of violence and their families.
Community programs funded through VAWA aid law enforcement officers and prosecutors, encourage arrest policies, reduce domestic violence and child abuse, establish and operate training programs for victim advocates and counselors, and train probation and parole officers who work with released sex offenders. VAWA also has led to the creation of battered women's shelters, rape prevention and education programs, the reduction of sexual abuse of runaway and homeless street youth, and community programs on domestic violence.
Despite coming under attack by House Republicans who attempted to eliminate key provisions, in 2006 the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization was signed into law. This reauthorized the existing programs and added many new provisions including better economic security for victims of violence, increased protections for battered immigrants, enhanced protection of victims' personal information and new programs designed to prevent domestic violence before it occurs.
Read Speaker Pelosi's Statement on the Violence Against Women Act Being Signed into Law>>
Reproductive Health Care
Democratic Women in Congress are committed to ensuring that women have access to the reproductive health care services that they need. We must promoting a comprehensive approach to reproductive health care, including planning for healthy families, preventing unintended pregnancies, and providing comprehensive and medically-accurate sexuality education.