Issue Position: Women's Rights

Issue Position

I am a strong and outspoken advocate for women's rights. Throughout my life, I have worked toward equal rights, justice and equal protections for all women, both here in the U.S. and abroad. I proudly serve on the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues.

Pay Equity:
Women's participation in the labor market has expanded considerably in the last few decades. Although women's pay relative to men's has increased over time, women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. The Institute of Women's Policy Research found that this wage disparity will cost women anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million over a lifetime in lost wages. In 2009, I supported and President Obama signed into law, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which strengthens remedies for those who experience gender discrimination. Gender discrimination remains a prevalent problem in the workplace and I will continue to work to end pay inequities.

Violence Against Women:
During my first year in Congress I led a successful effort to establish a permanent Violence Against Women Office at the Department of Justice. I am a strong supporter of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which became law in 1991. While numerous VAWA grant programs exist to support a wide range of organizations and service providers working to combat domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, many of these programs have not been adequately funded. I strongly support fully funding these life-saving initiatives.

Education is essential if we are to be successful in combating domestic violence and sexual assault. To advance this effort, I am the author of a resolution to support the goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Studies show that one in six women and one in thirty-three men will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime and that on average, a person is sexually assaulted in the U.S. every two-and-a-half minutes. In Wisconsin, one in three women and one in five men is a victim of sexual assault. In fact, 93% of sexual assault survivors in Wisconsin are violated by someone they know and trust, often times before the age of 15. We still have far to go in eradicating the harm inflicted on our communities by sexual assault and domestic violence and I will continue to advocate for an end to all forms of violence.

Reproductive Rights and Access to Reproductive Health Care:
I am pro-choice and support the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which protects a woman's right to reproductive health and freedom. I believe that the abortions protected by that decision should be rare and safe, but that the decision between a woman, her family and her doctor, based on her own health and circumstances.

I also strongly support domestic and international family planning to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions worldwide and to save lives. I believe that all women, abroad and in the U.S., should be free to make their own reproductive health care decisions and should have access to legal, safe, and affordable contraception. I vigorously oppose any cuts to Title X family planning funding, as well as any attempts to reinstate the "global gag rule," which prevents international organizations from providing needed comprehensive health care for women. In addition, I support efforts to reduce unwanted pregnancies, particularly teenage pregnancies.

Women's Health:
As a member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, I have played an active role in promoting women's health. I firmly support increasing funding for research on breast and cervical cancer, incidence of HIV/AIDS in women, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues impacting women.

I was the author of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act, which President Bush signed into law in 2007. This law strengthens our national response to by expanding access to breast and cervical cancer screenings for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women. It also gives states greater flexibility to reach more women who are eligible and in need. The bill increases funding allowing hundreds of thousands more women to be served nationwide.

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