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"When Women Succeed, America Succeeds"
In 2013, our nation marked the 165th Anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention that addressed women in social, economic and political life. The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions at the convention recognized the potential of women’s contributions to our nation and demanded that women be granted all the rights and privileges that men possessed.
American women have made great strides since that historic gathering – but there is more work to do to provide women with the economic security and opportunities they deserve and their families need.
Congressman Garamendi is committed to shaping an America where every woman can pursue her dreams.
Women of the Year
Congressman John Garamendi’s 2014 Women of the Year awards are an effort to publicly honor outstanding women of the Third Congressional District. The Congressman invites organizations and individuals from each of the eight counties—Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba--to submit nominations for panel review. Recognition of the women who, through their work or volunteerism, have improved the quality of life in our district, will be honored at a special event this fall.
The quality and content of the nomination is critical to the candidate’s success. Please try to include specific examples of leadership and all of your nominee’s philanthropic efforts and service. As a consideration to all the nominees, please make every effort to keep your nomination confidential. Nominations may be mailed, faxed or emailed to any of the three district offices. The deadline for submission is August 1.
To nominate a woman you think is deserving, please fill out this form.
An Economic Agenda for Women and Families
This year, Congressman Garamendi hosted his first Women in the Workforce Symposium, bringing 70 women in the 3rd District together for a conversation focused on succeeding in the workplace and balancing work and family life.
Time and again, the participants stressed the importance panelists and participants stressed the importance of flexibility in the workplace. This includes flexible work schedules, paid sick leave, guaranteed parental leave with right of return, and support for young children when parents are at work. Federal and state assistance programs – including nutrition assistance, the child tax credit, and subsidized college loans – were mentioned several times as crucial tools for women entering the workforce. Workplaces that offer onsite child care were frequently lauded by mothers of young children trying to advance their careers. “For some of us, flexibility is worth more than money,” one panelist said.
Congressman Garamendi is an advocate for legislation to address these concerns. Garamendi and House Democrats are offering the When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families--an agenda that stands on the shoulders of what was accomplished at Seneca Falls by addressing the economic challenges facing women and families today.
PAY
The Problems:
Fifty years after President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, women continue to earn less than men:
Find out how much less a woman earns than a man in your state.
The Solutions:
Learn more about challenges and solutions for pay equity in America.
WORK & FAMILY BALANCE
The Problems:
Workers in 145 countries around the world have earned paid sick days – but there is no policy to ensure earned paid sick days in the U.S. The United States has no mandatory paid family leave policy -- making it one of just three countries in the world and the only country among industrialized countries to not mandate paid maternity leave for new mothers.
The Solutions:
Learn more about the challenges and solutions for work and family balance in America.
CHILD CARE
The Problems:
Today, child care is a necessity for most families with preschool children because households need two incomes to pay all the bills. But while most other industrialized countries have universal preschool for three and four-year olds, there is a drastic lack of quality preschool for American children in the U.S. What's more, the lack of availability of affordable and high-quality child care in this country has reached crisis proportions.
The Solutions:
Learn more about the challenges and solutions for child care in America.