Hi John,
One of the highlights of the summer was the US Women’s National Team winning the World Cup soccer championship. Last week, they brought their spirit and skill to Philadelphia, and we got to see the USWNT win 4-0 over Portugal, with local fave Carli Lloyd scoring one of the goals.
I’ve been a fan and supporter of women’s soccer since 1991, and I’ve seen what great role models the USWNT are for girls, so this was a don’t miss event! I watched part of the game with young ladies who play with the Starfinder Foundation, a group committed to lifting up Philadelphia’s underserved youth through physical fitness, academic mentoring, and personal development.
I also had a chance to host players and a coach from Chester Upland Youth Soccer which serves kids and families in Delaware County through soccer and youth mentoring programs. I loved hearing about some of the great work they’re getting done in PA-05!
The spirit shown by all of the fans at the game -- for our country and especially for the dedicated women on the field -- was contagious! We spent an entire evening cheering for an incredible group of women that make us proud to be Americans.
The event was a blast but, more importantly, it was a great reminder of the value that women bring to the table -- on the field and in the workplace. In March, recognition of that value spurred Congress to pass H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, to level the playing field for women in the workplace. It’s been months since the House sent that bill to the Senate, but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to bring it (and hundreds of other bills passed by the House) up for debate or a vote.
We need to keep pushing so that the hard-working women of PA-05, and the whole country, can get a fair shake.
Best,
Mary Gay
