Issue Position: Women's Issues

Issue Position

While our country has made great strides toward women's equality, I believe there is still more to be done. Women make up half of our population, yet they are not getting an equal share and full opportunity to participate in our economy. I will continue to work to expand women's rights, especially when it comes to guaranteeing a woman's ability to make her own health care decisions, ensuring women get equal pay in the workplace, and pushing for stronger economic opportunity.

Accomplishments:

Women's Health and Wellbeing

Original cosponsor of the House version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, which passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law March 7, 2013.

Introduced the Women Veterans and Other Health Care Improvements Act of 2013, which would give veterans with service-connected disabilities access to in vitro fertilization and adoption assistance.

Fought back against the Hobby Lobby decision by cosponsoring the Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act, to make sure employers' personal beliefs do not interfere with workers' access to basic health care.

Supported increased funding to expand women's healthcare, including maternal health and ovarian cancer research.

Equal Pay for Equal Work

Cosponsored the Fair Minimum Wage Act, to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and tie future increases to inflation. Women, who make up 49 percent of the workforce, account for 56 percent of low-wage earners.

Original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, to ensure that women are paid based on their skills and experience, not their gender.

Cosponsored the Schedules That Work Act, which allows low-wage workers to request for flexibility of their schedules without retaliation.

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