Congressman Joe Garcia Joins Townhall on Women's Issues
For Immediate Release: August 6, 2014 Contact: Nicole Cueto (202) 480-7274
MIAMI, FL – Last night, Congressman Joe Garcia joined a Townhall in Kendall to discuss important issues affecting working women in the community. Rep. Garcia joined the panel along with League of Women Voters Miami-Dade chapter President, Maribel Balbin; Florida State Senator, Dwight Bullard; United Teachers of Dade Secretary/Treasurer, Karla Hernandez-Mats and Miami-Dade NAACP President, Adora Obi Zweze. Topics discussed included equal pay, adequate healthcare coverage, work/family balance, earned sick days and others.
“Women’s issues are our issues. How we treat gender equality defines us as a society and is essential to the success of our community and our country” said Congressman Garcia.
The forum was moderated by Miami-Dade League of Women Voters President, Maribel Balbin. She helped guide the discussion, putting a pulse on the critical need to address and reform many of these issues.
"We are honored to have our congressman here. He is a true friend of working families” said Maribel.
The League works at local, state and national levels to generate democratic conversation among members, educate the general public and policy makers on pressing issues, and take concerted action to bring about social change.
More than 75 people participated in yesterday’s meeting where the focus was on policies that addressed issues such as living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to juggle work and family, the need for family leave and/or healthcare, and other such topics. Aside from the participating sponsors, several working women were present sharing their stories and how they are taking action to change current policies affecting them, their families, and the lives of countless women around the country.
Congressman Garcia has long been an advocate of women’s issues and has made them part of his top legislative priorities during his time in Congress. He has lead various efforts toward improving conditions for the women of his community and the country. Since he was elected, Congressman Garcia has co-sponsored several pieces of legislation helping women including the Paycheck Fairness Act and Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA). The Paycheck Fairness Act seeks to update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act by strengthening the enforcement provisions of the Equal Pay Act, as well as expand research, education, and outreach to address pay disparities. VAWA, a critical piece of legislation aiming to keep women safe, is a landmark civil rights law that has strengthened the ability of the federal government, states, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
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