Dear Friend,

Today, we celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the day that women’s fundamental right to vote was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. A century later, we continue the fight for gender equality and our fundamental rights after the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

I draw strength to fight for our freedoms from the women who have served before me. When I walk the halls of Congress, I know that it is because I am standing on the shoulders of the women who have come before me - Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress; Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman elected to Congress; New Mexico’s own Secretary Deb Haaland and Representative Sharice Davids, the first Native American women elected to Congress - and my own mother, who taught me the meaning of grit, determination and heart. Today, we celebrate these trailblazing women and their work to elect the 399 women who have served in the United States Congress.  

I believe that we have the power to build a better future for women and for our communities. That is why, together with my sisters in Congress in the Democratic Women’s Caucus, we are linking arms and taking action to protect women’s rights and advance progress. I am fighting to protect the rights of all women - and address the needs of women who are part of historically marginalized communities. I am a proud cosponsor of numerous bills that address critical gaps in women’s rights such as:

• Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R. 3755) – legislation I cosponsor and helped pass so we can codify the right to abortion, fight back against draconian state abortion bans, and protect health care providers who perform abortions. 
• Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R. 959) – legislation I cosponsor to end racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.  
• Midwives for MOMS Act (H.R. 3352) – legislation I cosponsor to increase funding for midwifery education, especially for those from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds.   
• H.Con.Res.55 – legislation I cosponsor to recognize the significance of equal pay and the disparity in wages paid to Latina women in comparison to men.
• H.Res.891 – legislation I cosponsor to recognize the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th amendment to the constitution. This amendment, if adopted, would guarantee equal rights for everyone regardless of sex, helping to end discrimination in employment, housing, and more. 

In addition to the bills that I have cosponsored in the House, I am focused on the needs of New Mexicans affected by the Supreme Court’s decision to take away our fundamental rights. Next week, I am hosting a Reproductive Rights Roundtable to discuss how state and federal governments are meeting the recent increased demand and hear from our abortion care providers, students, and pregnant people about how my office can assist them. 

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As always, if I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my staff at (505) 346-6781. If you’d like to keep up to date on what I am working on in Washington on behalf of New Mexico’s First Congressional District and our communities, you can subscribe to our newsletter here, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Sincerely,

Melanie



Melanie A. Stansbury
Member of Congress