Issue Position: Women's Rights

Issue Position

Early in my life, I volunteered at a women's health clinic. It was there that I witnessed the very real and profound impact reproductive health has on women's lives. As an attorney, I defended a woman's access to health care before the Supreme Court. As your Representative in Congress, I continue to stand in strong defense of these rights. Simply put, a woman's medical decisions should always be made between her and her doctor--not politicians.

Recent attempts by some politicians to chip away at that right, as well as efforts to restrict access to care, require us to remain vigilant. I strongly oppose the political actions of some House Republicans to outlaw abortions in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. We cannot afford to turn back the clock for women.

I'm also working hard to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would give women more tools in the workplace to advocate for equal pay. Our country has made great strides in moving towards equal pay for equal work, but we still have a tremendously long way to go. Despite improvements, women still face systematic gender discrimination in the workplace, particularly in industries where women are underrepresented, such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. On average, women working full-time currently earn 79 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts, and the wage gap has been frustratingly stagnant for years. I'm committed to working hard to address the economic challenges facing American women and their families. With women making up nearly 50 percent of our national workforce, it is more important than ever before to advocate for income equality.

Source