Issue Position: Women's Issues

Issue Position

As Representative for the Seventh Congressional District, I have worked to be a strong and unceasing advocate for the equal rights of women. Among my top priorities are the pursuit of pay equality, increased funding for breast and ovarian cancer research and a strengthening the Family Medical Leave Act.

ENSURING FAIR PAY

Forty-five years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, women in America still make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. This is completely unacceptable. Every American should receive equal pay for an equal day's work.

Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to vote for two landmark pay equity bills. The first, the Paycheck Fairness Act, prohibits employers from engaging in gender-based pay discrimination and provides additional remedies to women who are not being paid equal wages. The second bill, called the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, ensures that women retain the right to sue their employers when they have been victims of gender discrimination.

While these bills serve as an important step towards complete pay equity there is still significant work to be done. In Congress, I remain dedicated to the passage legislation that further protects the workplace of all Americans, regardless of gender.

INCREASING FUNDING FOR BREAST CANCER AND OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH

This year alone, an estimated 1 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and an additional 20,000 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Despite improving treatments and innovative research, over 500,000 women die from these illnesses and other female specific cancers each year.

Last year, in a show of support for women suffering from these terrible cancers, I supported the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act and the Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Research Act, which would have increased funding for cancer research and treatment. While neither of these passed the House in the 110th Congress, I will remain a strong advocate for their passage in the 111th Congress.

PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

As a former law enforcement officer, I have seen first hand the devastating impacts that domestic violence has on women and their families.

I am a strong supporter of the Homeless Emergency and Rapid Transition to Housing Act, legislation that contains key provisions that protect women fleeing violent situations. This legislation would ensure that victims fleeing domestic violence would be eligible for HUD homeless assistance services.

PROMOTING FAMILY LEAVE

Most women do not have the job flexibility necessary to take time off from work for the birth of a child or to care for a sick family member. To better assist these working mothers, I voted for the Family Medical Leave Expansion Act, legislation that ensures all women are able to take appropriate leave from work to care for their children or dependent loved ones.

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