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For Immediate Release: April 29, 2009
Contact: Adrienne Ammerman or Mary Robbins, 202-588-5180
IMPORTANT STEPS FOR WOMEN IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS
NWLC Commends the Obama Administration and Congress for Meaningful Gains
(Washington, DC) The National Women's Law Center (NWLC) today commended the Obama Administration and Congress for taking important steps for women in the first 100 days. Many of these actions have already made a real difference in the lives of women and their families across the country.
In this brief span of time, Congress and the new Administration prioritized the needs of women and girls throughout the federal government, supported women in the workplace, and provided much-needed assistance to low-income families. The new Administration worked to improve women’s health and education, invest in child care and early education, and guarantee equal rights for all.
NWLC issued a document outlining these advances, as well as critical next steps. The full document is available on NWLC’s website: http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/ImportantStepsforWomen-first100days.pdf.
“The past 100 days have been a breath of fresh air compared to the preceding eight years of setbacks for women,” stated Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of NWLC. “Women in this country have been raring for change. This Administration deserves a great deal of credit for listening, and for taking swift action on a range of issues.”
Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of NWLC, added: “What a difference 100 days make! The President and Congress have taken great strides for women on many fronts, including fair pay, health care, education, and assistance for low-income families. It all adds up to long-awaited gains and much-needed support for the millions of women who need opportunities and assistance now.”
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), President Obama and Congress enacted critical measures to help women and families through these tough times by increasing assistance for those in need. The ARRA provided new investments in child care and early education, nutrition, energy, and housing assistance to low-income individuals and families – the majority of whom are women and female-headed households. For example, thirty-two million people who rely on food stamps are receiving increased aid: $80 per month for a 4-person household.
The Administration and Congress have additionally taken several steps to improve the health of women and their families. For example, a temporary increase in the federal matching rate for the Medicaid program was enacted as part of ARRA to help states meet the growing need for and to avoid cuts in health care and other services. This important change will protect access to critical health care, including for the more than 20 million adult women who depend on the Medicaid program.
An example of a major landmark for women in the workplace occurred January 29, 2009 – just over a week into the new Administration. On this day, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, thereby removing a critical hurdle in restoring the ability of victims of wage discrimination to go to court to hold their employers accountable for the inequities.
“The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act has already made a striking difference in the lives of women,” stated Greenberger. “Since the Ledbetter Act was signed into law, courts across the country have revived a number of cases, finally allowing for victims of pay discrimination to seek the justice they need and deserve.”
Though great strides have been made in the first 100 days, there is much more work to be done during this session of Congress to address the unmet needs of women. Another step forward is expected today, with congressional approval of a budget that prioritizes investments critical to women and their families.
“Today, everyone is vulnerable,” said Campbell. “But women – who have lower wages than men, higher rates of poverty, and are more likely to be supporting children on their own – are especially so. As the Administration and Congress consider their next steps, the unique needs of women and girls must remain at the forefront.”
High priorities include enacting quality comprehensive, affordable health care reform that meets the needs of women. The Administration must also enact the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would provide critical tools to help women hold their employers accountable when those employers engage in pay discrimination. In addition, the Administration must enact permanent improvements to tax credits for low- and moderate-income families, and otherwise reform the tax system to promote fairness and ensure adequate revenues for needed investments for women and their families.
To view the entire NWLC document The Obama Administration and Congress Have Taken Important Steps for Women in the First 100 Days, visit our website at: http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/ImportantStepsforWomen-first100days.pdf.
The National Women’s Law Center has developed a Platform for Progress, www.nwlc.org/platform, with concrete proposals to address the unmet needs of women and their families in the areas of education, employment, basic economic security, health, and legal rights.
To interview Marcia D. Greenberger or Nancy Duff Campbell, or for more information about the National Women’s Law Center, contact Adrienne Ammerman at aammerman@nwlc.org or at 202-588-5180.
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