Gwen Moore

It’s been a long time coming, but the Violence Against Women Act is finally heading to President Obama’s desk for his signature. This is due in no small part to the tireless efforts of EMILY’s List women like Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Louise Slaughter and Senator Patty Murray.

The phrase “women get things done,” has never been so applicable. Women have dominated the discourse this week, and EMILY’s List has been in the forefront of many of the exciting things that have been happening. ICYMI, here’s what we’re talking about:

John Boehner was re-elected Speaker of the House this week and the question on everyone’s mind: Why? The 112^th Congress is going down in history as the least productive Congress on record, and it receives this distinction with the generous help of none other than the House Republican leadership.

We already shared the highlights from our week in Charlotte at the Democratic National Convention, including our Town Hall. But another highlight for us was how many of our women spoke at the Convention. It was truly remarkable to watch the women we’ve spent all year championing take the stage and inspire a whole new audience. We also loved the speeches from some of our candidates in past cycles. EMILY’s List women really are rock stars.

Tammy Duckworth

EMILY’s List superstar, Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin recently visited Rockford, IL to lend a helping hand to her EMILY’s List sister, Cheri Bustos, who is running for Congress in Illinois’s 17th district.

I have a confession: I have a soft spot for Cong. Gwen Moore. I first met her in 2008 at an EMILY's List conference, and I can say she lives up to every expectation one would have of a great public servant. A straight-shooter, she's not afraid to tackle tough issues -- whether it is fighting for reproductive rights on the House floor, bringing accountability to the big banks in her role on the Financial Services committee, or lending a voice in Washington to her Wisconsin constituents.

In Congress right now, we’re having one battle after another to protect women, children and families.

The recently-passed Republican spending bill might is part of the House’s war on women. Whether the cuts were to maternal and child block grants, to programs that help nursing mothers and infants or cuts that limit access to birth control – women need to stand up and be heard.

"I don't think it is possible to run for political office unless one is independently wealthy."

We've been working hard today to elect more Democratic women -- and a look at what our EL women on the Hill did today reminds us why!