"I will always stand up and fight to make sure there is no discrimination of any kind, anywhere in the United States of America.  We must say no to hate crimes, racial profiling, racial redlining and racial sidelining"
-Senator Barbara A. Mikulski

Fighting for Equal Rights

Senator Mikulski fights hard to protect rights of all Americans

  • Cosponsored legislation which will amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 so that employees can sue employers based on each discriminating paycheck
    • In August 2007 , the Supreme Court ruled that an individual cannot sue their employer over unequal pay if that person doesn’t file suit within 180 days after pay was established.
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  • Supported electoral reform legislation which provides election day provisional ballots and funding for Maryland to buy new, modern voting systems.
  • Supported the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to strengthen our national hate crimes law and protect victims of hate violence.
  • Fighting to stop racial profiling by supporting legislation which prohibits law enforcement from engaging in discriminatory profiling practices.
  • Sponsored the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to make laws against pay discrimination apply to every paycheck or other compensation a worker receives.

Helping Marylanders Succeed

Senator Mikulski works hard to provide opportunities for minorities:

  • Fights for to make sure disadvantaged and minority businesses can compete for federal contracting dollars, by supporting the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program.
  • Supports affirmative action programs to open the doors of opportunity to qualified women and minorities.
  • Fighting for federal education funding to make sure access to educational opportunities does not depend on a students address and zip code.
  • Championing the fight to close the digital divide through Community Technology Centers (CTC) which bring computers and technology to underserved rural and urban communities. Since 2000, over 20 CTCs have opened in Maryland.
  • Fighting for access to credit, capital, and financial services.

Fighting to Level the Playing Field

Senator Mikulski works for legal reforms and access to the courts:

  • Fighting to make sure a Marylander is nominated for the current Maryland vacancy on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Supporting tax relief for victims of discrimination whose settlement and court awards are unfairly taxed and can even face double taxation.
  • Supports rights of victims of medical malpractice to get just compensation for their pain and suffering.
  • Opposes efforts to change class action rules to make it harder for plaintiff's to get into court.
  • Opposes efforts to change the law to give gun manufacturers and dealers immunity from lawsuits. 

HUMAN RIGHTS

"People fighting for their basic human rights everywhere need to know that the United States is on their side. The issue of human rights is a basic one and cannot be compromised. We must not tolerate the intimidation, detention, and persecution of individuals because of their religious, political, or philosophical beliefs."

- Senator Barbara A. Mikulski -

 

As a member of the Senate State–Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski is committed to supporting foreign aid programs that respond to such global challenges as poverty, disease, and hunger while promoting a commitment to diplomacy and stability.

Working to Save the People of Darfur

Senator Mikulski speaks out for the people of Darfur by:

  • Cosponsoring a resolution that declared the atrocities in Darfur are genocide and continuing to call for a peace plan that includes a halt to violence, the return of refugees, and the creation of a system of accountability.
  • Working for the passage of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which
    • Authorizes the President to provide assistance to reinforce the operations of the African Union, and
    • Blocks assets and denies visas to any individuals responsible for acts of genocide in Sudan.
  • Working for increases in funding to provide humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping support in Darfur and calling on the international community to support the hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping mission.
  • Supporting the creation of the Special Envoy to Sudan to coordinate U.S. diplomatic efforts with the government of Sudan and our international partners.
  • Encouraging legislation to allow states to divest their pension funds from foreign countries that are funding the genocide (Sudan Divestment Authorization Act, Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act).

Standing Up for the Rights of Women and Children

Senator Mikulski supports foreign assistance programs that empower women and protect children by:

  • Fighting to protect women and children from trafficking by:
  • Increasing the penalties for trafficking women and children,
  • Supporting the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
  • Advocating for a comprehensive strategy for the protection of women and children affected by humanitarian emergencies (Protection of Vulnerable Populations During Humanitarian Emergencies Act).
  • Championing legislation to create the Office for Women's Global Initiatives at the State Department to coordinate all U.S. policies and programs to stop violence against women worldwide (International Violence Against Women Act). This bill would also:
    • Require a comprehensive strategy for fighting violence against women, particularly those at risk during humanitarian crises or in conflict zones.
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  • Helping countries reduce poverty and improve economic opportunities for women by cosponsoring the Global Resources and Opportunities for Women to Thrive Act, which would
    • Increase access to credit and small loans,
    • Strengthen property rights, and
    • Improve working conditions.
  • Advocating for assistance to improve the health of newborns, children, and mothers by helping countries train medical personnel, improve access to medical supplies and treatment, offer health education and counseling, and expand safe water and sanitation facilities (U.S. Commitment to Global Child Survival Act).

Fighting the Global War on HIV/AIDS

Senator Mikulski supports the global fight to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS by:

  • Supporting efforts to increase funding to fulfill the U.S. commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
  • Championing legislation to provide assistance to countries to improve the recruitment, training, retention, and working conditions of professional health workers in Africa (African Health Capacity Investment Act).
  • Advocating for legislation to focus U.S. efforts on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and to provide care and treatment to all children affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans (Global Pediatric HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Act).