WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Democratic women House members today held a news conference calling
on the Republicans to support an economic stimulus package that can best
meet women’s needs. Schakowsky, who led off today’s event, said, “Republicans
are shamelessly pandering to the rich special interests while barely throwing
a bone to the people who really need the help.”
Schakowsky
pointed to the many letters she is receiving from her constituents as a
cause for action, including one where the author wrote, “Now we see the
executive branch proposing bail-outs for corporations while the people
who are left jobless are ignored.”
“Women
are the majority of workers in the industries hardest-hit by the recession,
and they are adversely and disproportionately affected by the current state
of our economy. Low-income women and single mothers are especially hurt
by lay-offs, cutbacks and the loss of benefits. In addition, two-thirds
of all unemployed women do not qualify for unemployment insurance. They
have a right to expect that their needs and their families’ needs would
be addressed in an economic stimulus bill. Unfortunately, they would be
wrong,” Schakowsky said.
“The
Republican proposal does not guarantee increases in state unemployment
benefits, many of which fall below poverty levels. Without that guarantee,
many unemployed women will be unable to make house payments, pay for health
care for their children or pay utility bills as we enter the heating season.
In fact, under the Republican bill, one million part-time and recently-employed
are stranded. And, despite the rhetoric, the bill does very little to provide
health benefits to laid-off women and their families,” she added.
Schakowsky
concluded, “The Democrats are demanding an economic stimulus that would
give assistance to unemployed families who will immediately use the money
to help meet critical needs and reinvigorate the economy by spending.
The Republican bill throws money at companies already sitting on huge reserves
in the hope that they might make investments.”
Statistics
about women in the workplace:
-
Two-Thirds
of unemployed women qualify for unemployment insurance;
-
Over
half of retail sales workers, two-thirds of restaurant and kitchen workers,
and over three-quarters of flight attendants are women;
-
Seventy
percent of part-time workers are women;
-
Single
mothers are 40 percent more likely to be unemployed than other workers;
and
-
60
percent of minimum wage workers are women.
Organizations
opposing Republican economic stimulus proposal:
-
The
National Partnership for Women and Families.
-
The
National Women’s Law Center.
-
The
American Association of University Women.
-
The
National Organization for Women.
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