Congressman Johnson celebrates Women’s History Month

Hank highlights: When Women Succeed, America Succeeds Agenda

LITHONIA, GA – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) joined millions of Americans in marking the annual celebration of March as Women’s History Month – a commemoration that has occurred in America since 1987.

“During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the enormous progress that has been made for American women throughout our history and the women giants of our past who struggled, suffered and prevailed on behalf of the advancement of women,” Rep. Johnson said. “In the last several years, there have also been new gains for women. For example, there are now a record number of women serving in Congress – with 20 women now serving in the Senate and 82 women in the House.”

“Much progress has been made for America’s women, but much more remains to be done,” Rep. Johnson pointed out.

Several statistics illustrate the challenges:

• On average women still make only 77 cents for every dollar made by men. This gap is wider for African American and Hispanic women.
• Nearly two-thirds of minimum-wage workers are women.
• The poverty rate – 14.5 percent for women – remains the highest in two decades.
• Family and medical leave protections fail to cover nearly half of full-time employees.
• Women-owned businesses continue to lag behind men-owned businesses. The average revenue of women-owned businesses is only 27% of the average revenue of men-owned businesses.

In response to these challenges, in July 2013, House Democrats unveiled When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families.

This agenda addresses the need to ensure that women get equal pay for equal work. It helps ensure work and family balance by allowing working parents to support their families and care for their children. And it recognizes that expanding educational opportunities, increased job training, and investments in women entrepreneurs are essential for women’s success in our economy.

“American women have made great strides over the last 100 years – but the fight for equal opportunity is far from over,” Rep. Johnson said. “There is more work to do to provide women with the economic security and opportunities they deserve and their families need. That is why I will continue fighting for the When Women Succeed, America Succeeds agenda, until America’s mothers, wives, and daughters truly have the same opportunities as America’s fathers, husbands, and sons.”

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