Delaney Statement on Women’s Equality Day

WASHINGTON – August 26, 2014 is Women’s Equality Day, a date marking the anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s ratification and congressional certification. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.

Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) releases the following statement:

“Women’s Equality Day marks one of the most important landmarks in American history: American women being granted the right to vote in 1920. From the very beginning, women played a crucial role in our nation’s history, but the right to vote made sure that the voice of women was clearly and loudly heard in our democracy. As the father of four daughters, I can’t imagine a world in which they would be denied the ballot, but that progress was only possible thanks to the work of brave and dedicated women across the country, who fought for decades and who often stood up to public mockery and scorn.

“In the 94 years since ratification of the 19th Amendment, American women have overcome challenge after challenge to achieve new heights and make countless contributions to our country. While our nation has made tremendous progress, we still have a long way to go before we can achieve the equality that today’s anniversary stands for. If we want to build a stronger country and a competitive workforce in today’s global economy, we need to start by empowering women through protections against discriminatory practices, fight for fair wages and protect health care rights.

“This Women’s Equality Day let us all remember the generations of women who dedicated themselves to securing women’s rights and recommit ourselves in our march towards equality in the United States.”

Wednesday, Delaney will host a panel discussion on the challenges facing working women at Montgomery College in Germantown.

Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) is a co-sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 377) and has signed a discharge petition to bring the Paycheck Fairness Act to the House Floor for a vote. The Paycheck Fairness Act would update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act, which was signed into law by President Kennedy in 1963.

Delaney is also a sponsor of the Healthy Families Act (H.R. 1286) which provides workers with seven paid sick days each year and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 1975), which strengthens workplace protections for pregnant workers.

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