Issue Position: Women's Issues

Issue Position

Protecting a Woman's Right to Choose
Congresswoman Speier believes that every woman in this country must have access to reproductive health care services and is committed to protecting the right to choose. Unfortunately, since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, that guarantee has been under an unprecedented and radical attack.

The Republican majority has crafted measures to redefine rape, leave women to die rather than access abortions and cut off support to women's health care clinics. In February 2011 Speier took the floor in opposition to a Republican amendment that would have withheld Title X funding for clinics, like Planned Parenthood, that provide abortion coverage. She was outraged that those in favor of the measure were insisting that it was necessary to ensure that federal funds were not used to pay for abortions even though the Hyde Amendment already requires this. Further, Planned Parenthood uses over 90% of their funding for essential preventive screenings women in this country depend on- like pap smears, STD tests and annual examinations.

But when she reached the House floor she felt compelled to share her own story in response to the lies that were being perpetrated by one of her colleagues. On that day, Speier shared the fact that she had an abortion procedure when she was 17 weeks pregnant and there was nothing welcoming or cavalier about her experience. Rather, she and her husband wanted the child and lost it.

In the days that followed Speier received thousands of letters, calls, and e-mails from women not just from California, but states all over this nation. They shared with her that they had endured similar procedures decades prior but had never spoken out because of the shame they felt. Others talked about how Planned Parenthood had become their only health care option and how pleased they were that she and her colleagues were fighting for it.

Speier was pleased that the Senate defeated the amendment to strip funding for Title X. She was grateful and humbled by all of the support she received. It is the stories she hears from around the country that keeps her in the fight for reproductive rights.

Equality
True equality will not exist until women have the rights and privileges that men enjoy, from equal pay for equal work to affordable health care premiums, adequate child care support and worker protections. As a member of both the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues and the Pro-Choice Caucus, Speier is working hard to promote legislation that will improve the lives of women and ensure them access to a brighter tomorrow. During her time in the California State Assembly and Senate, she worked tirelessly for the rights of women on issues such as contraceptive equity, prenatal substance abuse and access to capital for women owned businesses.

Equal Pay for Equal Work
For all the progress women have made, Speier remains outraged that a woman still earns 78 cent for every dollar that a man takes home for the same job. In fact, right now women have to work nearly four months longer than their male counterparts to earn the same annual pay at a comparable job. Equal pay means that women must take home one dollar for every dollar men get paid, not 77 cents, 80 cents or 90 cents. Speier believes it is past time to right this wrong.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
For over twenty years, unbeknownst to Goodyear Tire employee, Lilly Ledbetter, she took home significantly less than her male counterparts even though she did the exact same job. Shortly before retiring, an anonymous co-worker slipped a note into her mailbox comparing her pay against three other male employees. While a jury originally awarded Ledbetter over $3 million after she sued to rectify the situation, the Supreme Court unfortunately overruled the award because a loophole in the law which required that she file her claim within 180 days of receiving her first discriminatory paycheck.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act amended the law so that no company that chooses to discriminate based on gender will be free from liability because of a senseless statute of limitation. Speier proudly cast her vote for the bill in January 2009 and cheered as President Obama signed it into law shortly thereafter.

Paycheck Fairness Act
More than 45 years ago, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, making it illegal to pay different wages to employees of the opposite sex for equal work. The Paycheck Fairness Act, of which Speier is a cosponsor, would create stiff new penalties for employers who break the law and strong safeguards to protect victimized employees.

Access to Adequate, Affordable Health Care
Speier represents one of the most innovative areas in the country where cures to the nation's most debilitating diseases like breast cancer and heart disease are being created. But what value is this research to women who lack access to affordable health insurance coverage? Sadly, in 2006, one in five women of childbearing age was uninsured - making them more than 30% more likely to have a serious health problem after giving birth. Uninsured women with breast cancer are up to 50% more likely to die from the disease than their insured friends. This is one of the reasons Speier proudly cast my vote for the health care reform measure, entitled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in 2010. Because of this law, being a woman can no longer be considered a pre-existing condition. It ended harmful insurance industry practices like denying coverage to women who have suffered from cancer or heart disease. Further, in 2014, more than 11 million women will be eligible for subsidies to help pay for premiums. It also measure prohibited insurance plans from excluding maternity coverage or cancer screenings from plans.

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking
Human trafficking has become our modern-day slavery and is considered the third-largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world. What many do not know is that this epidemic is thriving in our country and not only affects foreign victims but also American children. In fact, national experts estimate that as many as 300,000 American children are trafficked each year in the United States and the average age of the victims is 12-14. Evidence shows that the Internet has become the tool of choice for these predators.

In 2010, Speier called on the House Judiciary committee to hold a hearing into this troubling epidemic. The hearing took place in September 2010 and led to a deeper understanding of the issue and a renewed commitment by Congress to improve the lives of the innocent victims affected. But the problem is truly local and must also be tackled at home. That is why Speier launched the San Mateo County Zero Tolerance initiative-a collaborative partnership between law enforcement officials, community members and our non-profit partners. The goals of the initiative are to raise community awareness and ensure that victims have the resources they need and that their perpetrators are brought to justice.

In May 2011, Speier held a collaborative training that more than 150 community members attended. Further, she has held three meetings with law enforcement officials on the topic and is pleased that they have pledged to make this issue a priority.

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