Lisa Blunt Rochester Statement on Women's Equality Day

Statement

Today is the anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which finally gave women the right to vote in 1920 and has since come to be known as Women's Equality Day. It serves as a reminder of the progress we've made when it comes to equal rights for women, and it's also an opportunity to examine what more we can do for the fight for full equality.

Women's Equality Day is a chance to renew our commitment to protect the progress we've made. That means standing strong against those who would place the government between a woman and her doctor, continue working to expand opportunities for women in the workforce and fighting attempts to chip away at voting rights across the country among other gains.

And it's also a day to examine what still needs to be done. Nearly a century after women won the right to vote, women still earn - on average - only 78 cents for every dollar earned by men and that number is even less for women of color. Too many women remain forced to choose between their paycheck and caring for sick family members and lack the access to affordable and quality child care they need for their families.

There's a lot Congress can do to help. That starts by making equal pay a reality for women and people of color by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, raising the minimum wage, guaranteeing sick days and paid medical leave for families, and supporting women-owned small businesses. Those are my priorities if elected to Congress; not just because I'm a woman, but because it's the smart thing to do.

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