Statement from Ellen R. Malcolm on Senator Kennedy

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ellen R. Malcolm, president and founder of EMILY’s List, issued the following statement this morning on the passing of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy:

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Senator Kennedy. He was a true champion for women and families in the United States and around the world. Sen. Kennedy was a major supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment for constitutional equality for women; a strong advocate for Title IX that increased participation for women in college sports; and more recently a leader in passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that ensures equal pay for equal work. He will be truly missed. My thoughts are with the Kennedy family and the extended family of Kennedy staff and friends across the country.”

EMILY’s List is the nation’s largest financial resource for women candidates. In the 2007-2008 cycle, EMILY’s List raised more than $43 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote. With more than 100,000 members across the country, EMILY’s List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY’s List has worked to elect 80 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 15 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices.