Issue Position: Women & Families

Issue Position

EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK

I am a strong advocate for the Lily Ledbetter Act. We must enforce and strengthen laws that ensure women receive equal pay for equal work. No worker should ever receive a lower salary because of her gender.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Every day in America, a woman loses her life as a result of domestic violence. This is a silent epidemic that needs to finally come out of the shadows.

As a state legislator, I made combating domestic violence one of my major priorities. I partnered with women's groups and advocates to support programs that benefit domestic violence victims -- including recycling old cell phones and the "Pride Packs" program.

WOMEN'S HEALTH

The Republican War on Women, and their attacks on women's health in particular, are wrong and counterproductive.

The issue of abortion is a deeply divisive one that raises strong feelings. For me, it was alarming to learn that abortion rates in countries where it remains illegal are not only very high, but procedures practiced are very unsafe. I believe in my heart that if the U.S. made abortion illegal it would not reduce the number of abortions, but would increase the number of women who risk their lives and health undergoing underground abortions. I think reversing Roe v. Wade would be a tragic mistake. Making criminals out of women or their doctors would be wrong.

Because of my support for women's health and equality, I've been attacked by pro-life groups who have even leafleted churches in my district in recent elections. I've also been attacked in my campaign for Congress for my evolution on this issue. I believe if the pro-choice movement consisted exclusively of only those who never changed their mind on this critical subject, then it would be a much smaller group. In Congress, I will fight efforts to infringe upon the reproductive rights of women, and work to ratchet down the heated rhetoric on this emotional issue.

It is also essential that women have access to contraception, including emergency contraception. Throughout my legislative career I have been a strong proponent of funding family planning services. I have supported Planned Parenthood and will continue to defend its funding. For many poor and uninsured women, Planned Parenthood is the only place they can turn for health services.

Every year, I sponsor a free breast cancer screening for all women in my district. Just last year, two women who did not have health insurance had their breast cancer detected because of this free screening. It is vital that those in government make a priority of funding the fight against breast cancer.

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