Hi Friend,

It’s Women's Equality Day today - a day we celebrate women and the hard-won right to vote.

While we’ve achieved so much in the almost 100 years since the 19th amendment was adopted, we still have a long way to go.

We’re still fighting every day for things like equal pay and an end to violence against women.

Just last week, I attended a forum presented by women business leaders in Alaska in honor of Women’s Equality Day, focusing on progress made by women in the Anchorage business community. The number one takeaway: we need to work on closing the gender wage gap. According to information reported by the Alaska YWCA, Alaska women make .67 cents for every dollar earned by a man. This results in over $1 billion lost each year to the Alaska economy, which causes economic losses to all of us in Alaska. After the forum, I had a fruitful discussion with one of the panelists.

Also, Planned Parenthood was recently forced to make the hard decision to withdraw from the Title X family planning program. Title X funding is meant to provide vital, affordable family planning services. But the new Trump administration rules on Title X would require health providers to withhold medical information from patients. Rather than comply, Planned Parenthood forfeited $60 million in federal dollars. What does this mean? It means that for many women already struggling to make ends meet, it just got a lot harder to get healthcare.

I know this issue is a difficult one. But getting people access to affordable healthcare shouldn’t be a political one! Growing up in Alaska, I experienced what it was like to struggle to find a doctor and get the care I needed when I needed it. And as I’ve traveled the state, this is a story I hear time and time again.

That’s why on this Women’s Equality Day I want to shout out to all my fellow women who work tirelessly every day. You have my commitment that I will continue to fight for ALL women.

That’s why I’m running for Congress. If I win, I’d be Alaska’s first female elected to the House of Representatives, I have the unique perspective to tackle these issues that affect Alaskan women and families. Like the women who got us the right to vote, I can’t do this alone. I need your support. With your help I know we can win and finally tackle these issues with Alaskan solutions.

With Gratitude,
Alyse Galvin

Paid for by Alyse for Alaska