Women's Issues
Since coming to Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has worked tirelessly as an advocate and leader for women. She has placed a special emphasis on women’s health needs, reproductive freedom, international family planning, and securing women’s equality in the Constitution.
Equal Rights Amendment: Congresswoman Maloney is the leader in Congress of the effort to pass an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution. Read more
Breastfeeding: Due to significant health benefits for the mother and child, the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend six months of exclusive breastfeeding for all infants. Congress needs to do all it can to support mothers when they decide to breastfeed. Read more
International Efforts: Congresswoman Maloney has been a long-time supporter of the United Nations Population Fund, aiding global efforts to prevent and treat obstetric fistula, and passing the Afghan Women’s Act. Read more
National Women’s History Museum: In December 2014 Congress passed legislation establishing a privately-funded commission to prepare a report containing recommendations for establishing and maintaining a National Women’s History Museum in Washington, D.C. The 8-member commission would have 18 months to produce the report and submit it to Congress for approval. Members of the commission will be appointed by Speaker of the House John Boehner, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. Read more
Gender Pay Gap: Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Maloney has been a steadfast leader in fighting for women’s rights, including closing the gender pay gap. A typical woman today, working full-time and year round, is paid only 79 percent of what her male counterpart makes. It is unacceptable that in the year 2016, women on the whole are not being paid fairly for their work. This is not merely a women's issue, it is an issue that affects every American family who is increasingly dependent on women's earnings. Read more
Reproductive Choice: Congresswoman Maloney is a strong advocate for a woman’s right to choose and an outspoken supporter of women’s reproductive rights. However, choice is meaningless without access. That is why she has been monitoring the efforts of the anti-choice establishment to devalue a woman’s right to choose and has been actively working against any legislative limits to access. Read more
Increasing the Role of Women in Corporate Boardrooms: In January 2016 Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12) unveiled a new report from the Government Accountability Office, which shows women are severely underrepresented on corporate boards, taking up just 16 percent of seats in the boardroom. The study, which Maloney requested in May 2014, shows that even if the rate of women joining corporate boards were doubled, so they were hired at the same rate as men, it would still take at least 40 years (2056) for women to reach parity. Read more
Boko Haram: Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is a fierce advocate of protecting both the rights and safety of Americans, and human rights internationally. Since Boko Haram’s capture of 267 schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria in 2014, Congresswoman Maloney has supported the effort to #BringBackOurGirls, and supports international efforts to help eradicate the terrorist and anti-American organization, Boko Haram.
Equal Access to Discriminatory Clubs: In August of 2012, Congresswoman Maloney publically praised the Augusta National Golf Club's decision to admit former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and businesswoman Darla Moore as members of the exclusive club that plays host to a Masters Tournament. Read more
Sexual assault in the military: Rapes and sexual assaults are far too common in both civilian life and in the military. Congresswoman Maloney has worked to bring justice to the military victims of sexual assaults through letters to the Department of Defense, nonpartisan studies, and legislation. As our soldiers are fighting for those who have long been denied basic rights, we should do everything possible to ensure that we are protecting their rights too.
Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act: Congresswoman Maloney has led the fight to have a day officially dedicated to the memory of an influential woman in the country’s history. The Congresswoman introduced the Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act in 2011, which would designate the third Monday in February as a day to celebrate the legacy of Susan B. Anthony. Susan Brownell Anthony is remembered for creating the first women’s movement in the United States and leading that movement for more than 50 years. Read more
Reducing the National Rape Kit Backlog: Congresswoman Maloney authored the Debbie Smith Act to help reduce the backlog of untested DNA rape kits. First passed into law in 2004, this bill has been lauded "as the most important anti-rape legislation ever signed into law," by the head of the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. Read more
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More on Women's Issues
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement following an event with her Democratic colleagues, Ilyse Hogue, President, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Cecile Richards, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, on the importance of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for women’s health care.
A Smithsonian Museum For Women’s History Has Been Proposed & These Events Prove How Much It’s Needed
We may soon get an exciting addition to the 19 Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC: An eight-member Congressional panel has laid forth a plan for the American Museum of Women’s History, which would spotlight women's contributions to the country. Its proponents plan to introduce it to Congress wi
NEW YORK – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), lead House sponsor of the bill to create a Congressional Commission to study a national women’s history museum, today was joined on the steps of City Hall with New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Letitia James, Councilman Ben Kallos, and women leaders to hail the final bipartisan report from the American Museum of Women's History Congressional Commission. The report recommends the creation of a new Smithsonian Museum for American Women’s History on the National Mall.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), lead House sponsor of the bill to create a Congressional Commission to study a national women’s history museum, received the group’s final report today. Over the last 18 months, the bipartisan Commission engaged with historians, scholars and various experts to draft the report and make their recommendations for an achievable plan to establish a national women’s history museum in Washington, D.C.
A week after the highest of all glass ceilings proved indestructible, a congressional panel finds the country needs a national museum dedicated to showcasing the contributions and experiences of American women.
To be called the American Museum of Women’s History, the institution would open in a new or existing building on or near the Mall and would be operated by the Smithsonian Institution. Private donors would provide the estimated $150 million to $180 million needed for the construction or renovation.
NEW YORK—On Sunday, October 23, 2016, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney joined a panel of distinguished women’s rights activists, including Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, for a paneled community dialogue, known as the Seneca Falls Dialogues, in the birthplace of the suffragist movement.
NEW YORK – Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) today joined with New York Stock Exchange Chief Operating Officer Stacey Cunningham and New York women leaders from the public and private sectors to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in honor of Women’s Equality Day 2016, a day designated to commemorate the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution 96 years ago. Click here to watch a video of the bell ringing.
Washington, D.C. – Today, as we celebrate Women’s Equality Day, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) are sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting they undertake a study of gender-based price discrimination in the market for goods and services. The letter seeks to shine a light on why price disparities exist and why they tend to be burdensome for women.
NEW YORK—Today, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and Mayor Bill de Blasio were joined by Health Commissioner Mary Travis Bassett, Congressman Jose Serrano, State Senator Adriano Espaillat, and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh to demand that Congress take decisive action to combat the Zika virus and provide funding needed to adequately respond to Zika in the U.S. and develop a vaccine to protect our citizens. They also provided an update on what the city is doing right here at home to protect citizens from the virus.