Happy Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is meant to celebrate and honor mothers and maternal figures, past and present, as well as all their accomplishments.

This day reminds me of all mothers, especially my own mother, who have worked hard and persevered despite overwhelming hurdles.

When I think of Mother's Day, I think of all the mothers who choose to skip a meal so that their children can eat, or the mother who is sick but fears losing her job or pay for the day and goes to work instead of taking care of herself.

Women's Health

As an ovarian cancer survivor of over 30 years, I understand how important it is to ensure women have access to health care providers and information on their health.

I also believe that all women should have access to the full range of safe and legal reproductive healthcare services.

I am a proud supporter of:
H.R. 3086, the Find It Early Act, which I wrote and introduced

- Would ensure all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic breast imaging that make early detection possible, with no out-of-pocket costs.

H.R. 5834, Johanna’s Law Reauthorization Act

- Would ensure women and their health providers have information about gynecologic cancers. Earlier detection of these cancers increases the chances of saving lives.

H.R. 3755, the Women’s Health Protection Act

- Would prohibit governmental restrictions on access to abortion services and protect a woman’s right to make her own healthcare choices.

I will always fight for a woman’s fundamental right to make her own healthcare decisions. This Mother’s Day, I am proud that Connecticut has proactively taken steps to protect the right to an abortion and has created a sanctuary for those seeking an abortion.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

For nearly 50 years, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has contributed to healthier pregnancies, improved birth outcomes for low-income women and infants, and assisted with healthier growth and development for young children. Last year, the program served more than six million pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children up to age five. In 2022, about 39 percent of all infants in the United States received assistance through WIC.

As the lead Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, I…

- Secured $33 billion in the 2024 government funding law to fully fund child nutrition programs.

- Led the fight to ensure that the 2024 government funding law fully funded WIC at a level of $7.03 billion, which included a needed increase of $1 billion to protect against a budget shortfall that would have resulted in a reduction in benefits and participation. This ensured all mothers in need could receive benefits.

Equal Pay and Paid Leave

Women are essential to the workforce. Unfortunately, women’s labor—both in the workplace and in the home—is all too often undervalued and underpaid. I cannot help but think of my mother, who lived until she was 103. As the child of immigrants, she started working at age 14 and sacrificed all throughout her life so that I could one day have the honor of serving Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives. Women have the right to choose to be mothers and caregivers without having to sacrifice other aspects of their lives. All women should be able to pursue their dreams and aspirations.

I am the proud author of:
H.R. 3481, the FAMILY Act
- Would give all workers access to paid family and medical leave by creating an independent and self-sustaining national insurance trust fund within Social Security.

H.R. 17, the Paycheck Fairness Act
- Would close loopholes that have helped employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay by enabling women to receive compensatory and punitive damages without a cap, and prohibiting employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information with their co-workers.
- Would create a training program to help women strengthen their negotiation skills and require the Department of Labor to work with employers to eliminate pay disparity through enhanced outreach and training.

Child Care

If there is one cause worthy of our investment, it will always be America’s children. Child care is critical infrastructure. When it is accessible and affordable – parents and children thrive, and our country is stronger. Parents cannot work if they do not have a safe place for their children. It is paramount that we continue our investments to help parents, improve the social and emotional learning of our children, and help providers.

I was proud to secure:
- $8.7 billion in funding for the Child Care Development Block Grant in this year’s funding bill, an increase of $725 million dollars to support access to quality child care for families and investments in the workforce.

As the Third District’s first female congressional representative, I have proudly fought for women and equality every day and will continue to do so. Mother’s Day is a reminder for women everywhere to not give up and continue to make their voices heard. I will never give up in the fight for equality and to make this world better for all women and girls.

Sincerely,

Member of Congress

Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy

Open in browser Open plain text