3.2.2: Women
Other Information:
President Obama—the son of a single mother and the father of two daughters—understands that women aren't a special interest
group. They are more than half of this country, and issues that affect women also affect families. That is why the first bill
he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which helps women fight back when they are paid less than men, and
why we continue to fight to overcome Republican opposition and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to help stop gender discrimination
in pay before it starts. And that is why the Justice Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, led by President
Obama's appointees, have investigated and prosecuted numerous violations of the nation's civil rights laws, and obtained more
than $140 million in relief for victims of gender discrimination. We Democrats will continue to support efforts to ensure
that workers can combat gender discrimination in the workplace and to protect women against pregnancy discrimination. And
that's why we support passing the Healthy Families Act, broadening the Family and Medical Leave Act, and partnering with states
to move toward paid leave. We understand that economic issues are women's issues, and the challenges of supporting and raising
a family are often primarily a woman's responsibility. That's why putting Americans back to work is Job One. That's why the
Affordable Care Act especially helps women by guaranteeing they and their families won't become uninsured when they lose their
jobs. That's why this administration strengthened Medicare and Medicaid for millions of women and families. And that's why
the Affordable Care Act is ending health insurance discrimination against women, and provides women with free access to preventive
care, including prenatal screenings, mammograms, cervical cancer screening, breast-feeding supports, and contraception. We
understand that women's rights are civil rights. That's why we reaffirm our support for the ERA, recommit to enforcing Title
IX, and will urge ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. That's why
we are committed to ending violence against women, why Vice President Joe Biden originally wrote and championed the Violence
Against Women Act during his time in the Senate, and why we support reauthorizing and strengthening it now. The President
and the Democratic Party believe that women have a right to control their reproductive choices. Democrats support access to
affordable family planning services, and President Obama and Democrats will continue to stand up to Republican efforts to
defund Planned Parenthood health centers. The Affordable Care Act ensures that women have access to contraception in their
health insurance plans, and the President has respected the principle of religious liberty. Democrats support evidence-based
and age-appropriate sex education.
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