As we celebrate 90 years of progress on Women's Equality Day, we also recognize the realities of the present. Women comprise less than one-fifth of our Congress and account for a mere fraction of the chief executives at the helm of our biggest companies. Women hold only 27 percent of jobs in science and engineering, which are critical to our economic growth in a 21st-century economy. And, almost 50 years after the Equal Pay Act was enacted, American women still only earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn. This gap increases among minority women and those living with disabilities. These disparities remind us that our work remains unfinished. My Administration remains committed to advancing women's equality in all areas of our society and around the world. I was proud to create the White House Council on Women and Girls to help ensure that American women and girls are treated fairly in all matters of public policy. I also appointed the first White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, whose leadership will guide my Administration in confronting violence and sexual assault against women.

The President stresses the importance of the fight for equality in American society:

Women's rights are ultimately human rights, and the march for equality will not end until full parity and equal opportunity are attained in every State and workplace across our Nation. It remains our responsibility to ensure that the principles of justice and equality apply to all Americans, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status. If we stay true to our founding ideals and the example of those who insisted upon nothing less than full equality, we can and will perpetuate the line of progress that runs throughout our Nation's history for generations to come.

“Today marks the anniversary of the day, ninety years ago, when the U.S. Secretary of State certified the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. In the nine decades since – and even in the four decades since Women’s Equality Day was officially declared – women have made tremendous progress. They have used their votes and their voices to press for equality not only in the voting booth but in every facet of American life – from the workplace to the sports field and everywhere in between.

“On this day, we celebrate that incredible progress and the ability of all American women to participate freely in public life on an equal basis with American men. But we must also acknowledge that the fight for full equality has not ended – the wage gap between women and men persists, the Glass Ceiling persists, and other challenges persist. President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress are working hard to help women overcome those challenges and to tear down the remaining barriers to equality. Through laws such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first act signed by President Obama after he took office, and historic steps such as the nomination and confirmation of two incredibly qualified women to the Supreme Court – as many women as had previously served in the entire history of our country – we are making progress, but there is still much to be done.

“So this Women’s Equality Day, I join women and men across America in reaffirming the fundamental truth that a group of forward-looking women’s activists asserted more than 150 years ago: that all men and women are created equal, and recommitting to supporting our leaders as they work to ensure that our country recognizes and fosters that equality in every aspect of American life.”

“The struggle to gain equal voting rights for women was not easy. As they worked to open the voting booth to women, suffragists were verbally abused, arrested, and beaten. They faced stiff odds not only against the approval by Congress of an Amendment guaranteeing women’s suffrage, but also against the ratification of such an Amendment by the states. But they succeeded against those odds. And ninety years ago today, a Tennessee legislator acting on the advice of his suffragist mother cast the decisive vote in favor of ratification – tipping the balance in the Tennessee legislature and giving suffragists the final state needed to certify the 19th Amendment.

“In the nine decades since, women have made incredible strides toward equality. Today, women play leading roles in the American government and they are a fixture of the American workforce, but unfortunately, inequality among the genders persists. That is why it is more important today than ever that women – and all Americans – exercise their hard-won right to vote.

“President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress have fought to level the playing field for women by enacting new laws upholding the principle of equal pay for equal work, by fighting for policies that make it easier for parents to balance work and family, by combating gender-based inequalities in our health system, and by making government more responsive to women’s concerns. But Republicans have opposed the progress enacted by Democrats, and they have pledged to defeat Democratic Congressional leaders who have been advocates for women’s equality in this fall’s elections. We cannot allow that to happen.

“On this 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, I urge women – and all Americans –not only to celebrate the history of women’s suffrage and the progress our country has made since its founding in extending civil and voting rights to all eligible Americans without regard for race or gender, but also to get out there and make use of their vote to ensure that women’s progress continues unabated.”

DNC Women’s Caucus Chair Mame Reiley also issued a statement in honor of the occasion:

“The 19th Amendment was born out of a near century-long struggle by American women to earn the right to make their voices heard alongside those of their fathers, sons, and husbands in the democratic process. Few of the courageous women who began the fight to earn the right to vote lived to cast a ballot, but their daughters and granddaughters – and millions of women across the country today – benefitted from their steadfast dedication to the cause of suffrage.

“Today, women not only have equal voting rights, they are a critical force in the democratic and electoral process. But despite women’s equality in the voting booth, they have not yet achieved full equality outside of it. So, President Obama has made it a priority to pursue greater equality for American women. To that end, he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, giving women in factories and office buildings across the country new tools to fight against unequal pay for equal work. He established the White House Council on Women and Girls, creating a new body tasked with helping American women to overcome challenges to equality of all kinds. And he has focused the resources of this White House to ensure that every piece of legislation he has enacted has opened doors of opportunity for women as well as men – through Recovery Act funding for quality child care and Affordable Care Act provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender, among other things.

“On this 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, I join Democrats across the country in celebrating the tremendous strides made by women since our country’s founding, and we pledge to support the President as he continues to do the hard work necessary to ensure equality and opportunity for women and for all Americans.”

“And so, on Aug. 18, 1920 — 90 years ago today — women won the right to vote and make our voices heard in government. In the nine decades since, women have made great strides in America. A higher percentage of us vote than men and a majority of us vote Democratic. Approximately three-fourths of the women in the U.S. Senate, House, and state legislatures are Democrats, as well. And, as we all know, the speaker of the House, third in line to the presidency, is Nancy Pelosi. Our college attendance is equal to men and we are now presidents of great universities, we have joined the work force in record numbers, and we work as doctors, soldiers, and plumbers as well as teachers, nurses and owners of our own small businesses — and so do our husbands and brothers. We have closed many of the gaps between women and men.”

“Although women continue to earn less than men — just 78 cents on the dollar, on average — President Barack Obama took immediate action to close that gap. The very first bill the president signed after taking office was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which protects women against pay discrimination and helps to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work. In addition, President Obama has championed flexible work policies like paid sick leave, because he believes women should not have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for loved ones…. At the same time, the president and his Democratic partners in the Congress have enacted broad-based legislation that is not only helping America overall, but is also giving particular benefits to women. The Recovery Act, which has saved or created more than 2.5 million jobs across America, also contains provisions that are specifically targeted to help working women and families. For example, the act authorizes billions of dollars in new funding for Head Start and other child care programs and calls for unemployment insurance reforms that encourage states to cover part-time workers and individuals who have recently reentered the work force, categories which include millions of women. Similarly, the Affordable Care Act is an historic leap forward — for every American, but particularly for women. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies will be prevented from imposing lifetime limits on coverage for women. They will no longer be able to drop coverage for women when they get sick, or pregnant. They will no longer be able to charge women exorbitant out-of-pocket deductibles or co-payments. And they will no longer be able to charge women more simply because of their gender.”

“On this 90th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, it is important to give thanks for how far we have come, and to continue to move forward together. So I hope you’ll join me in offering your support for the president and Democrats in Congress as they to work to open new doors of opportunity for women and men alike. And, I hope you will open your hearts to the plight of so many of our sisters around the world who do not share the freedoms we enjoy because of the hard work of our foremothers, those heroic suffragists, almost a century ago.”

For the first 144 years of this country's existence, women were not guaranteed the right to vote -- and winning that right did not come easily.

Women's suffrage took a movement. It took organizers who worked tirelessly and allies who fought for the cause in the halls of power. On August 18th, 1920, when the legislature of the state of Tennessee voted to ratify the 19th Amendment and affirm its place in the Constitution, it passed by a single vote.

Because of the work of those who came before me, my right to cast a ballot was never in question. From the first time that I stepped into a voting booth to the day when I became the executive director of the Democratic Party, I've been deeply mindful of that fact.

Last week, President Obama asked us all to make a commitment to vote this fall. To me, that promise isn't just about choosing the direction I hope to see this country take -- it's an opportunity to honor those who didn't have the right to vote but fought so that their daughters and granddaughters would not be denied the full measure of citizenship.

Will you join me and commit to vote in this year's election?

The movement for suffrage began before the Civil War. Women faced prison sentences -- even beatings -- to cast ballots as a gesture of protest. Even before the right to vote was won, women like Victoria Woodhull and Belva Lockwood ran for office. States across the country began to grant suffrage, and on the eve of the First World War, Woodrow Wilson -- a Democrat -- became the first president to take up the call.

Susan B. Anthony devoted her life to the cause of equality, and in 1897, decades before her fight was won, she wrote "Suffrage is the pivotal right." In the 90 years since the 19th Amendment became law, that statement has borne out.

Today, in the United States, there are more women registered to vote than men, and the gap stands at nearly 10 million. From House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, women hold office at every level of government.

But the fight for full equality is not finished. In 2008, a woman in the United States earned only 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. For women of color, the disparity is even greater.

We have a choice with this election about whether we want to continue the fight to bring down barriers -- whether we want to move forward or backward. We'll decide whether we want to honor the legacy of those who couldn't vote but reached for that right. But all those decisions begin with the promise that you will participate in the fall elections.

Commit to vote:

http://my.democrats.org/Suffrage

Thanks,

Jen

Jen O'Malley Dillon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle; and Tina Tchen, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York; Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida; EMILYs List President Stephanie Shriock; Jennifer Lawless, Director of the American Women and Politics Institute; and Ann Lewis, former senior advisor to the Hillary Clinton for President campaign.

White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod.]]> http://www.democrats.org/a/2010/05/more_photos_fro_1.php http://www.democrats.org/a/2010/05/more_photos_fro_1.php Blog Sat, 08 May 2010 18:46:31 -0500

The first half of today's Women's Leadership Forum event was capped by appearances by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, who have worked closely together on issues from military families to their recent visit to Haiti.

Dr. Biden spoke about her work teaching at a community college, and some of the extraordinary women she’s met who are working to improve their lives and the lives of those around them:

“I am profoundly moved by the women I meet, whether in my travels or in my classroom each day, by their determination to learn, and their quest to make a better life for themselves and their families."

First Lady Michelle Obama then took to the stage, reminding the audience of when she’d last been with the group, at the Women’s Leadership Forum held in Chicago in 2008. The First Lady Lady spoke on what's changed since and what remains the same now:

“The last time we were together, it was back in late October of 2008, and you were all meeting in my hometown, Chicago…A lot has changed since we last met. But there’s one thing that hasn’t changed. Back then I talked about the issues that we face—from the economy, to health care, to education. And I said that these issues aren’t and they still aren’t about politics. They’re personal. And they’re personal for every single one of us in this room, and they’re personal for every single one of us in this country.

It’s easy to lose sight of that fact with all the back and forth that goes on here in Washington -- folks yelling at each other on TV so that little things get blown out of proportion and sometimes big, important things don’t always get the attention that they deserve.

But when Barack and I travel the country now and we spend time with ordinary folks, they don’t have much interest in the scorekeeping that goes on here in Washington. They really don’t…

The questions they ask have nothing to do with the daily chatter that goes on here, and it has everything to do with the struggles, the real struggles they’re facing in their lives. They tell us about insurance companies that refuse to pay for the treatment that they need, and they ask us, “What do I do now?” Or they tell us, “I’ve been out of a job for months.” And they ask, “What are you going to do to help folks like me?”

…They are the basis for every decision he makes—not whether it’s good politics, not whether it’s going to make good headlines, but whether it’s good for them and for their families."

The First Lady has made working with young people around the globe a priority, recently taking her first solo international trip to Haiti and Mexico. She told the story of a young woman she had met in Mexico City, and the stories like hers that show how women are the ones leading the fight to improve the world for future generations:

"I’ll never forget about a young woman that I met there named Maricela, who I met at a roundtable discussion with young leaders in Mexico City...Her father had passed away, and her mother -- she told a story of how she worked tirelessly to support her and her four siblings; said her mom was always the first one to wake up in the morning, and the last one to go to bed at night. But she told us about the fact that despite their hardships, her mother was determined to build a better life for her daughter.

...This is a story that is told every day all around the world, and right here in America -- a story about the strength and determination of women. Women who haven’t had much in their own lives, but who know exactly what they want for their children. Women who work those extra shifts, and make those sacrifices, so their daughters –- and their sons –- can have opportunities they never imagined for themselves.

I’m talking about women like Lilly Ledbetter, who kept on fighting for equal pay even when she knew that it was too late for herself, because she wanted something more for the women who came after her...I’m talking about women like Dr. Dorothy Height, one of my heroes -- who kept up the fight for civil and economic rights up through the final months of her life. She once said, “I want to be remembered as someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work for justice and freedom...I want to be remembered as someone who tried.”

And every day, across this country, so many women wake up every day and try -– using everything they have –- to make life a little better for others...and that’s what you all are doing—building a better world for our kids and grand kids. We need you to stay involved. When you need something done and you ask women to do it, it gets done."

After the Governor's welcome, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and White House Policy Council Director Melody Barnes spoke about what the Obama Administration is doing to provide our children with the best possible education. Secretary Duncan reiterated the President's goal of leading the world in percentage of college graduates by 2020.

And former Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe spoke on Democrats' strategy to engage 2008 first-time voters and build momentum for the upcoming 2010 elections. Plouffe emphasized that person-to-person contact will be a big focus -- with family members, friends, and neighbors working to reconnect with voters who were inspired by President Obama's vision for change.

"I want to be remembered as someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work for justice and freedom...I want to be remembered as someone who tried." - Dr. Dorothy Height

Civil rights legend Dr. Dorothy Height passed away this morning in Washington, D.C. at the age of 98. Dr. Height, President of the National Council of Negro women for 40 years, was one of the most influential women involved in the civil rights movement, and had devoted her life to fighting for equality for African Americans and women.

President Obama released the following statement on the news of Dr. Height's passing:

"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dorothy Height - the godmother of the Civil Rights Movement and a hero to so many Americans. Ever since she was denied entrance to college because the incoming class had already met its quota of two African American women, Dr. Height devoted her life to those struggling for equality. She led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, and served as the only woman at the highest level of the Civil Rights Movement - witnessing every march and milestone along the way. And even in the final weeks of her life – a time when anyone else would have enjoyed their well-earned rest – Dr. Height continued her fight to make our nation a more open and inclusive place for people of every race, gender, background and faith. Michelle and I offer our condolences to all those who knew and loved Dr. Height – and all those whose lives she touched."

The Washington Post reported on some of Dr. Height's life work and accomplishments:

As a civil rights activist, Ms. Height participated in protests in Harlem during the 1930s. In the 1940s, she lobbied first lady Eleanor Roosevelt on behalf of civil rights causes. And in the 1950s, she prodded President Dwight D. Eisenhower to move more aggressively on school desegregation issues. In 1994, Bill Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor...

In the turmoil of the civil rights struggles in the 1960s, Ms. Height helped orchestrate strategy with movement leaders including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Roy Wilkins, A. Philip Randolph, Whitney Young, James Farmer, Bayard Rustin and John Lewis, who later served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia....

In August 1963, Ms. Height was on the platform with King when he delivered his "I have a dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. But she would say later that she was disappointed that no one advocating women's rights spoke that day at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Less than a month later, at King's request, she went to Birmingham, Ala., to minister to the families of four black girls who had died in a church bombing linked to the racial strife that had engulfed the city.

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine's Statement On The Passing of Civil Rights Leader Dorothy Height:

“Today, the world lost an iconic figure, a true visionary and drum major for equality and justice. Dr. Height, one of the founding members of the Civil Rights movement, worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney Young, Roy Wilkins, A. Phillip Randolph, Mary McLeod Bethune, and others. She fought tirelessly so that African American women and men would be treated fairly and with dignity. Her efforts on behalf of economic and social justice helped secure desegregation of public schools, equal employment opportunities, greater pay equity for women, equal access to public accommodations, and voting rights for all Americans.

“During her four decades as president of the National Council of Negro Women, Dr. Height worked hard to ensure that the causes of freedom and equality remained at the forefront of the American consciousness. For her work, Dr. Height received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, as well as the Congressional Gold medal, the highest honor Congress can bestow.

“Dr. Height’s tireless efforts on behalf of the less fortunate were a testament to her love and compassion toward her fellow man. Her long and distinguished career improved the lives of countless Americans and her legacy will endure for generations to come. I join Dr. Height’s friends and family in commemorating her lifetime and I offer my condolences on their loss.”

DC Democratic Party Chair Anita Bonds' Statement on the Passing of Dr. Dorothy Height:

"The District of Columbia Democrats acknowledge the passing of Dr. Dorothy Height, famous, celebrated and outstanding American. Her legacy will live on through the millions of lives she touched during her lifetime of 98 years. During her most active years in the civil rights struggle, the average citizen in the Black community, the President of the United States, and governments across the world, sought her comforting presence, knowledge and wisdom. In recent times, her undying dedication to the call of justice and democracy was exemplified through her love for young people by connecting them to the rich history of their cultures and promises for a bright future through teaching that "you can be what you want to be" with preparation to better yourself -- be it President of the United States, world champion tennis athlete, accomplished college graduate or esteemed family. May Dr. Height rest in peace knowing that her journey has been an inspiration to her nation.”

We are honoring the civil rights activist by remembering when the DC Council presented her with a recognition resolution last year. The recognition took place during the Congressional Black Caucus week in Washington DC at the Park at Fourteenth. See a video and photos of the presentation of the recognition here:

With the passing of Civil Rights activist and feminist Dr. Dorothy Height, CNN’s Ali Velshi and Donna Brazile discuss the next generation of leaders and crusaders. Watch the video here.

Since taking office, President Obama has worked hard to help women address income disparities and close the wage gap.

Less than one month after taking office, the President signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which gives women the authority they need to challenge unfair pay practices. Following the signing, President Obama said:

“Equal pay is by no means just a women's issue -- it's a family issue. It's about parents who find themselves with less money for tuition and child care; couples who wind up with less to retire on; households where one breadwinner is paid less than she deserves; that's the difference between affording the mortgage -- or not; between keeping the heat on, or paying the doctor bills -- or not. And in this economy, when so many folks are already working harder for less and struggling to get by, the last thing they can afford is losing part of each month's paycheck to simple and plain discrimination.

“So signing this bill today is to send a clear message: that making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody; that there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces; and that it's not just unfair and illegal, it's bad for business to pay somebody less because of their gender or their age or their race or their ethnicity, religion or disability; and that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory, or footnote in a casebook. It's about how our laws affect the daily lives and the daily realities of people: their ability to make a living and care for their families and achieve their goals.”

Since then, President Obama has passed historic legislation ranging from the Recovery Act to health reform that will help all Americans – and particularly women – to realize their full potential as workers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

Today, we hope you’ll join us both in celebrating those victories and in recognizing the hard work still to be done to ensure that no American earns less or is undervalued simply because of their gender or race.

You can find out more information on the conference by visiting http://my.democrats.org/page/content/WLF2010Conference/

From DNC Chairman Tim Kaine:

“Women’s History Month is an opportunity for our nation to reflect on and recognize the important role of women in our society. From the Seneca Falls Convention, to the 19th Amendment guaranteeing equal suffrage, to inspiring the Montgomery Bus Boycott, to Title IX, American women have a rich history of breaking down barriers.

“Democrats are proud that in the last year President Obama and the Democratic Congress have taken important steps on behalf of American women. Last summer President Obama nominated, and the Senate confirmed, Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, making her the third woman and the first Latina to serve in the nation’s highest court. Seven women (Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lisa Jackson, Janet Napolitano, Susan Rice, Christina Romer, Kathleen Sebelius, and Hilda Solis) currently serve in President Obama’s cabinet. President Obama pledged during the Presidential campaign that he would ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work, and he kept that promise. The first major piece of legislation President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which legally entitles women to equal pay for equal work.

“But we have much more work to do. Women have a great deal at stake with the President’s health insurance reform bill – women are often charged higher premiums than men and are denied coverage because of so-called pre-existing conditions like c-sections or domestic violence. Democrats are committed to passing comprehensive health reform legislation that will once and for all end gender discrimination in our health insurance system.”

DNC Women’s Caucus Chairwoman Mame Reiley:

“During March we reflect on the great strides women have made in our march towards equality, and we recommit ourselves to the work we have left ahead of us. Trail blazers like Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, Rosa Parks and Shirley Chisholm laid the groundwork that has allowed today’s women to work in the professions of our choosing, pursue economic security, and seek elective office at all levels.

We have made great progress since we gained the right to vote in 1920 – women currently hold 76 seats in the House and 17 U.S. Senators are female. However, even though 53 percent of the electorate in 2008 was female, our elected bodies still do not reflect the composition of America. During Women’s History Month, let us remind ourselves of the progress we have made as we pledge to continue the work that our sisters began over 150 years ago."