When we say our women are cut out for leadership roles, we mean it. And we're certainly not the only ones who think so.
Earlier this week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced new leadership for its Red to Blue program, which supports some of the top Democratic challengers in GOP-held seats around the country. EMILY's List alums Cong. Allyson Schwartz and Donna Edwards will be serving as two of the four program chairs. Also taking on new responsibility will be current DCCC Vice Chair Cong. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who will be working with Democratic incumbents this cycle.
We're not surprised to see our women stepping up to help where they're most needed!
The Democratic women of the Senate aren't the only ones stressing the importance of health care reform for women.
On the House side, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading the way, holding a press conference earlier this week with the Democratic Women's Working Group earlier this week.
Pelosi got right to the heart of the matter, focusing on current challenges some women face when trying to get insurance coverage: "Think of this, you have survived domestic violence and now you are discriminated in the insurance market because you have a pre-existing medical condition. Well, that will all be gone under this legislation."
Here's a clip:
EMILY's List alums Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Donna Edwards (MD-04), Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15), and Gwen Moore (WI-04) joined Pelosi at the conference, and each had powerful things to say about the need for reform.
Kilroy, whom EMILY's List members helped elect in 2008, spoke of her own multiple sclerosis diagnosis and current struggles facing women with chronic diseases. "The insurance industry tells us that because women are 2-3 times more likely to have multiple sclerosis, 10 times more likely to have breast cancer, because 55,000 more women than men have strokes every year, they can rate insurance based on gender. And the decisions that they are making are not only unfair or immoral. Frankly, they're bad public policy."
It's great seeing our women getting together and having some fun! We know that these two are bringing the same amount of energy to their work on the Hill as they are to their dance moves.
While Emily Lockwood, the other Emily on the web team, was listening to ranting protestors in Colorado yesterday, I headed to Maryland for what seems to be a rarity these days: a productive town hall meeting.
Rep. Donna Edwards hosted a town hall meeting on health care reform in a packed library in Oxon, Maryland, and I went braced for at least a few protestors and maybe a heckler or two. I expected the left-leaning district to be more supportive than the crowds many members of Congress are facing during recess, but I didn’t think the event would be smooth sailing. Luckily, I was in for a treat.
Edwards, who has quickly become a leading progressive voice in Congress after winning a special election in 2008, started the event by asking attendees to respect other points of view, a request many members of Congress are making across the country. Fortunately, that’s exactly what folks in Edwards’ district did.
The people at the town hall meeting weren’t without strong differences in opinion. Whether upset with their current health care plans, eager to support the House’s bill, or strongly against aspects of proposed legislation, these constituents were passionate about their beliefs. But that didn’t lead to personal attacks, mob mentality, or, thankfully, violence.
Unlike some of her colleagues who have had to yell over protestors or even cancel meetings, Edwards was able to answer questions about the plan’s costs and its affects on people’s current health care plans. I certainly learned more about the legislation from the session and, whether they supported the plan or not, I believe other folks did, too. I was part of a serious, thoughtful discussion about what’s going on in Congress today.
And, unfortunately, there aren’t too many people right now who can say the same.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) knocked it out of the park last night -- at least as far as fundraising goes. The Florida congresswoman organized the first-ever female congressional softball game, which brought in $40,000 for Young Survival Coalition, a breast cancer charity.
Despite breaking her ankle while sliding into second base, Debbie gave an uplifting speech at the end of the evening, praising the bipartisan spirit of the game. A number of EMILY's List women joined Debbie on the field.
"We've got a pretty good group of women," said the team captain, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who cooked up the idea last year. She played varsity softball in high school, though others copped to a little less playing time: "Like, for a hot minute in seventh and eighth grade!" confessed Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.). "Oh, Donna is a very good catcher!" gushed Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).
We could have told you that Rep. Donna Edwards (MD-04) was a rising star when we supported her in her challenger race last year -- but we don't mind hearing it from other people, too.
The first-term Congresswoman was recently featured by POLITICO as "a rising star on the left" with a "willingness to work." The article goes on to say she has "immersed herself in the concerns of her demographically diverse district during her first year in Congress."
From her commitment to her constituents to her passion for progressive change, Donna is exactly the kind of leader Washington needs -- and we couldn't be prouder to be part of her team. Donna is determined to change the political landscape for the better -- and we love seeing her in action.
While Emily Lockwood, the other Emily on the web team, was listening to ranting protestors in 
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