The handful of women who attended yesterday's health care summit may have made for a small contingency of the attendees, but they didn't hold back when it came to voicing women's issues during the meeting.
Joining Cong. Louise Slaughter in highlighting crucial issues -- particularly those of women and families -- were Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and EMILY's List alums Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Sen. Patty Murray (WA).
As always, we were incredibly impressed with how articulate and insightful they were -- especially when so few of them were there to represent more than half the American population. And if they're this good when their numbers are so low in Congress (only 17%!) just imagine how much more they could achieve with a great number of women among their ranks...
Here's what they had to say:
Sen. Patty Murray, Washington, on making health care reform personal
"Every time we talk about this, every time I think about this, I remember a little boy who I met last spring, who was 11 years old, who's name was Marcellus. And he told me that his mom, single mom, taking care of him and his two younger sisters, was going to work every day, had a job managing a fast-food restaurant, was doing OK, but she got sick. And when she got sick, she had to take time off from work. And because she was missing so much work, she lost her job. When she lost her job, she lost her health care. And because she lost her health care, she couldn't get in to see a doctor and sadly, Marcellus' mom died."
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, on current insurance practices
"I think the most dangerous part of the system right now is having people -- having insurance companies pick and choose who gets coverage and who doesn't, based on your health condition. It's a lot cheaper to insure people who promise never to get sick."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, on what health care reform means to America
"This is not just about health care for America; it's about a healthier America. This legislation is about innovation; it's about prevention; it's about wellness. But most people haven't heard about that. And those people sitting at that kitchen table, they don't want to hear about process; they want to hear about results. They want to know what this means to them. And what it means is a health initiative that is about affordability for the middle class, lowering costs, improving access for them."
Cong. Louise Slaughter, New York, on what's at stake for women
"Eight states in this country right now have declared that domestic violence is a preexisting conditions on the ground, I assume, that if you're been unlucky enough to get yourself beaten up once you might go around and do it again. Forty-eight percent is the higher cost for women in many cases to buy their own insurance. Believe you me, that is really discriminatory."
While excitement fueled by hate and anger tend to run high at rallies hosted by tea-partiers, we were shocked when we heard about this comment from a participant in a tea party rally in Washington state last week, attended by hundreds of activists, calling for the hanging of Senator Patty Murray. The tea-party spokesperson compared Senator Murray to the character of Jake from “Lonesome Dove” and said: “What happened to Jake when he ran with the wrong crowd? He got hung (sic). And that’s what I want to do with Patty Murray.”
We know a lot of voters are angry right now, but statements like that go too far. We’re all for robust debate, but saying you’d like to murder a U.S. Senator because you’re frustrated about what’s going on in Washington is way out of line. What’s more disconcerting is that the rally organizers, the Lewis and Clark Tea Party Patriots, had little to say about how the lack of appropriateness of the comment. And the really disturbing part? It’s only February, and the tea partiers are just starting to get warmed up for the November elections.
“When our soldiers sign up for service, there isn’t a waiting line and there shouldn’t be a waiting line when they come home and need a job."
That's what EMILY's List alum Sen. Amy Klobuchar said last week, detailing new legislation she's introducing along with EMILY's List candidate Sen. Patty Murray (WA) to make sure the men and women who serve in our military are prepared to join the workforce once their service ends.
Eighteen percent of veterans who have been out of the service for three years are unemployed -- twice the country's unemployment rate.
The Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act will expand training opportunities for veterans and set up job apprenticeships for recent vets.
“Not every returning soldier chooses to go to college but they still want a job,” said Klobuchar. “Job training, from pipe-fitting to law enforcement, should be covered by the G.I. Bill.”
Sen. Patty Murray (WA) doesn't just talk about the need for improved public education; she's taking action to see that it happens.
This week, she took a major step toward improving the quality of U.S. education by introducing landmark literacy legislation.
The "Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation" (LEARN) Act aims to provide $2.35 billion to support literacy programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Murray, who serves on the Senate Education Committee, said that the effects of the program would be far-reaching.
"[Literacy is] the building block that keeps students engaged in school and on track to college and a successful career," Murray said. "The LEARN Act will provide a new comprehensive and state-wide approach to literacy. It will help ensure that high quality literacy instruction starts early and continues through high school for students who need extra support.”
A similar bill is set to be introduced in the House.
Our women in the Senate have been on the forefront of many issues in the news lately, particularly health care reform. Of course, they're also leading the way in other top Senate jobs, including foreign relations. We were excited to learn this week that EMILY's List alum Sen. Patty Murray (WA) has been named chair of this year's United States-China Inter-Parliamentary Group.
Patty will lead a group of 12 senators in their annual meeting with representatives of the Congress of the People’s Republic of China. The parties are set to discuss common problems in the interest of relations between the United States and China.
In 2006, Patty traveled to Beijing and Guilin as part of the U.S.-China Inter-Parliamentary delegation.
“What I've seen time and again in working with China is that relationships matter. I believe we must have an open door and acknowledge that there are going to be disagreements and conflicts but that the way to resolve them is through discussion and engagement,” Murray said.
Blazing the trail. Breaking new ground. Making history.
That's exactly how our women in Congress have been described and, even though we know it's true, it sure is great when others take notice of their incredible work.
Today, Politico ran a great piece about women in the Senate. Calling them "the magnificent seven," the article outlines exactly how much has changed since Sen. Barbara Mikulski (MD) became the first Democratic woman elected in her own right in 1986. Mikulski, the first woman EMILY's List helped elect, joined the Senate when there were no women's restrooms in the Senate Chamber, the gym was for men only, and the two women senators were both called "little lady."
Now, Mikulski serves unofficially as the "dean" of women in the Senate, and that means leading the way for many of her colleagues and mentoring new women senators (like the freshman we helped elect last year, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Kay Hagan of North Carolina, along with the newest woman member, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York).
And, as the article points out, women in the Senate haven't only grown in numbers; they've also gained remarkable influence. Women lead five of the Senate's 20 committees. As the conference secretary, Sen. Patty Murray (WA) is the fourth highest-ranking Democrat, and Mikulski is the 17th highest-ranking member of the Senate.
“Women senators are not a caucus; we’re a force,” said Mikulski.
They sure are -- but that doesn't mean our work is over. Women in the Senate are making huge strides, but they still comprise only 17 percent of the Senate. Based on what we've accomplished together in the last 24 years, it's amazing to think what the next 24 will bring.
At EMILY's List, we believe that electing women to office is critical for creating a more representative, progressive democracy. And with women at the table, our issues are a top priority.
This week, that couldn't have been clearer.
EMILY's List women of the Senate took center stage this week, speaking about the essential ways in which health care reform will benefit the country's women. From the House floor to Larry King Live, these women senators spoke out for women across America, describing the obstacles to care many women face.
Here's a great video, highlighting moments from their speeches on the Senate floor.
Here are just a few quotes you won't want to miss, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar's personal health care story after the birth of her daughter.
“I was up all night in labor, up all day trying to figure out what was wrong with her, and they literally kicked me out of the hospital... My husband wheeled me out in a wheelchair because at that point in our country’s history, they had a rule. It was called drive-by births, that when a mom gave birth she had to get kicked out of the hospital in 24 hours.”
--Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN)
“[I]n all but 12 states, insurance companies are allowed to charge women more than they charge men for coverage. The great irony here is that mothers, the people who care for us when we’re sick, are penalized under our current system.”
--Sen. Kay Hagan (NC)
“For the women in these plans, or who are attempting to get insurance, no amount of money can buy maternity care that they need.”
--Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI)
“Only 14 states in America require insurance companies to cover maternity care. Imagine, in a country that puts family values first, only 14 states."
--Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA)
"It's shocking to think that, in today's America, over half of this country could be discriminated against."
--Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
“It’s time to end the insurance discrimination that women face.”
--Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
We already knew that the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor would be historic, but I love hearing it articulated by the women we helped elect to the Senate.
Yesterday morning, a number of EMILY's List elected women took to the Senate floor to praise Sotomayor's experience, education, and trail-blazing path to her Supreme Court nomination. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Patty Murray (WA) all spoke in support of Sotomayor.
Klobuchar, who spoke previously about the importance of adding a woman's voice on the court (and blogged about it here!), spoke today about Sotomayor's qualifications: “She knows the law, she knows the Constitution...But she knows America too.”
Click here to watch a great video of Gillibrand on the Senate floor.
Read My Lipstick
Comments
Leave a Comment