Statement on House Democrats’ Women’s Economic Agenda: When Women Succeed, America Succeeds

Washington, DC (July 18, 2013) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement on House Democrats' Women's economic agenda: When Women Succeed, America Succeeds:

"Today we mark the 165th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention — the historic event where women first came together to demand equal rights in our democracy and in our economy. A lot has changed over the past 165 years. Women won the right to vote and are now serving in Congress. Women have entered the workforce in large numbers and are leading businesses — large and small. But one thing has not changed: women are still not receiving equal pay or the benefits they need to meet their families' needs.

"Today we are announcing House Democrats' women's economic agenda: When Women Succeed, America Succeeds. This three-part plan gives women and families greater economic security by improving pay, providing flexibility for working women and providing access to affordable, quality childcare.

"When women succeed, America succeeds. Too many women and families are burdened with financial pressures from outdated policies. We must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, raise the minimum wage, expand the Family Medical Leave Act and make quality childcare affordable and accessible for everyone.

"These are essential changes that are part of our ongoing effort to protect women and their families —from quality education for girls and to retirement security for older women by protecting Social Security and Medicare. I urge Speaker Boehner and the Republican majority to bring these bills to the House floor as soon as possible so that we can act now to improve women's lives."

Equal, Fair and Good Pay —Women still make on average only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men and women of color make even less. The effects of the wage gap last a lifetime, resulting in lower pensions and Social Security benefits. We must pass paycheck fairness legislation that will help close this gap. Since nearly two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women and the minimum wage is at historic lows, we must also increase the minimum wage.

Defending Women Workers — We need policies that provide flexibility for working women, support families, and ensure the health and safety of workers. As a mother and a grandmother, I know how hard it is to balance work and family–particularly for women who remain the major caregivers for children and parents.

No one should be forced to choose between earning a living and taking care of their family. We need to expand FMLA to cover all workers. I have introduced legislation to cover part-time workers, H.R. 675, the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act of 2013. But the guarantee of unpaid leave is not enough for women who are increasingly the major or even sole breadwinners for their families. If you cannot afford unpaid leave, the FMLA guarantee–as good as it is–is not enough. It's time for America to offer paid leave.

Strengthening Women and Families — We need to increase access to affordable, quality child care. One key step forward should be to enact a Preschool for All Initiative, providing all low- and moderate-income four-year-olds with access to high-quality preschool, as proposed by President Obama.

###