Issue Position: Standing Up for Women's Rights

Issue Position

Mark Pocan has always gone out of his way to support the rights of women who continue to face disparities with men, in terms of equity in representation in leadership in politics and in the workforce, equal pay, and equal treatment under the law.

Mark's Accomplishments:

Authored and fought for 6 years to pass the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act, requiring all hospitals to offer emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault.

Opposed effort to require women be given a test before being allowed birth control by offering an amendment requiring men be given a test before being allowed access to Viagra.

Helped add a provision to a budget measure that now requires pharmacists to dispense contraceptives.

Helped add a provision to a budget measure that mandates health care coverage for contraceptives.

Mark's To-Do List:

Reauthorize and expand the Violence Against Women Act, which provides funding for women who are hurt or abused and for domestic violence prevention programs.

Fully support Title X programs for family planning and oppose efforts to reinstate the "global gag rule" on international family planning.

Pass the Equal Right Amendment, providing women full equal protection under the law.

Support strong implementation of Title IX, which protects women and girls from discrimination and harassment in our nation's schools.

Protect all funding for Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide pap smears, cancer screenings and other women's health services.

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