Unveils Plan to Put Women and Children Priorities First; Announces Women for Dodd Committee
DES MOINES – With a thirty-year record of getting results for women and families, Presidential candidate Chris Dodd today unveiled his plan to continue to ensure that women have the economic, health, and educational opportunities that they deserve, and that working parents do not have to choose between the job and income that they need and the family that they love and must support. Dodd is the author of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has allowed an estimated 50 million workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a new child or a sick family member.
“The United States is leading the world on innovations in science, technology, communication, the list goes on,” said Dodd. “But we are still leaps and bounds behind where we ought to be on something so basic – ensuring that women have the same opportunities as men, and that parents are able to maintain their jobs while caring for themselves and their families.
“In a Dodd Administration, these priorities will be where they belong – at the top – and the United States will set an example for the world in the fair and equal treatment of women and families.”
Earlier this year, Dodd introduced a bill in the Senate expanding upon his original FMLA plan, providing paid leave for workers who need to take time to care for their loved ones or themselves.
As President, Chris Dodd will create opportunity for women and support them in the choices they make by:
Instituting Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Ensuring every woman receives a full day’s pay for a full day’s work.
Increasing access to high-quality, affordable child care.
Expanding the Child and Earned Income Tax Credits to provide an additional $7 billion in tax relief for working and middle-class families.
Making women’s health a priority.
Dodd also announced today the 44 members of his “Women for Dodd” steering committee, including Regional Chairs Sarah Adams, Mary Baumhover, Deb Bowen, Mary Ann Burris, Beth Fermet, Kay Jackson, Linda Louko, Joyce Schulte, and Karen Thalacker.
Dodd will hold roundtable discussions about his plan at family centers in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport today. Eva Bunnell, whose story motivated Dodd’s authorship of the FMLA, will join Dodd to talk about the impact that FMLA has had on working families across the country.
Details of the plan, as well as Dodd’s record on these issues, are attached below. The full list of the Women for Dodd Steering Committee is included as well.
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Women for Dodd Steering Committee
Regional Chairs:
Sarah Adams, Poweshiek County
Mary Baumhover, Carroll County
Deb Bowen, Des Moines County
Mary Ann Burris, Polk County
Beth Fermet, Story County
Kay Jackson, Linn County
Linda Louko, Johnson County
Joyce Schulte, Union County
Karen Thalacker, Bremer County
Members:
Kathy Bass, Linn County
Caryl Bucksbaum, Scott County
Vi Buttery, Harrison County
Lydia Caldiera, Harrison County
Rebecca Clark, Linn County
Jan Coffenberry, Scott County
Kathy Elsner, Polk County
Laurie Finn, Johnson County
Betty Gray, Scott County
Kay Hale, Linn County
Ruth Hancock, Scott County
Hazel Hargrove, Johnson County
Alice Hospers, Scott County
Helen Kottman, Johnson County
Jennifer Lunsford, Jefferson County
Mary Lou McGinn, Pottawattamie County
Karen McKeown, Scott County
Colleen Mehaffey, Linn County
Marilyn Miller, Cass County
Delores Mulvihill, Powesheik County
Darlyne Neff, Scott County
Katherine Nicholson, Johnson County
Ricki Pashler, Polk County
Meredith Place, Johnson County
Rose Mary Pratt, Polk County
Chris Rediske, Bremer County
Jenelle Sarcone, Polk County
Renee Springston, Harrison County
Autumn Springston, Harrison County
Summer Springston, Harrison County
Lynne Stamus, Johnson County
Laura Stokes, Harrison County
Marvalee Vuichard, Linn County
Gloria Wallace, Johnson County
Marilyn Whittaker, Scott County
Our Families, Our Future: Putting Women And Families First
Chris Dodd understands that as far as women’s rights have progressed in the last fifty years, much more needs to be done. Despite the fact that nearly half the workforce is now made up of women, that women are more likely to have an advanced degree, and that as many as 10 million businesses in America are owned by women, women are still not competing on a level playing-field with their male counterparts. Today, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar men earn and face unique challenges balancing the demands of work and family. As President, Chris Dodd will create opportunity for women and support them in the choices they make by:
Instituting Paid Family and Medical Leave
Ensuring every woman receives a full day’s pay for a full day’s work
Increasing access to high-quality, affordable child care
Expanding the Child and Earned Income Tax Credits
Make women’s health a priority
Chris Dodd knows how to get results for women and families and bring people together to turn Democratic principles into American policies. He brought Democrats and Republicans together to pass the historic Family and Medical Leave Act which has helped 50 million Americans take time off to celebrate the birth or adoption of a child or care for a sick family member. He is a strong supporter of a woman’s right to choose and has fought to invest in and protect women’s health. He authored the first federal child care law since World War II. And, Chris Dodd is a strong supporter of affirmative action and equal pay for women. As President, Chris Dodd will get results for women.
THE DODD PLAN FOR PUTTING WOMEN AND FAMILIES FIRST
Paid Family and Medical Leave. As the author of the Family and Medical Leave Act, Chris Dodd ensured that millions of Americans would never have to choose between the job they need and the family they love. Unfortunately, many Americans cannot take advantage of this historic law because they cannot afford to take unpaid time off from work. As President, Chris Dodd will provide 8 weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member or to welcome a child into the world.
Pay Equity. According to the United States Census, the average income of women college graduates is $25,000 less than their male counterparts. For women of color, the gap is even larger. A longtime supporter of paycheck fairness, Chris Dodd will ensure that no woman is ever denied a full and fair paycheck because of their gender. As President, he will require the Department of Labor to work with employers to eliminate pay disparities. He will also prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information with their co-workers and stiffen penalties for employers in violation of the Equal Pay Act. Chris Dodd understands that equal pay for equal work is long overdue.
Making Child Care Affordable and Accessible. Today, parents of more than 28 million school-age children work outside the home. Unfortunately, the high cost of child care erodes the value of their paychecks or, in some cases, prevents parents from reentering the workforce at all. As the author of the landmark Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Chris Dodd understands children must have a safe place to grow while their parents are at work. As President, he will significantly increase funding for CCDBG and provide incentives for businesses to provide child care for their employees. He will also promote public-private partnerships to strengthen investment in early childhood development.
Expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. Chris Dodd understands that raising a family in America is expensive. Visits to the pediatrician, formula, diapers, and child care, all take a toll on a family’s budget. Today, the Child Tax Credit provides $1,000 per child but parents of nearly 7 million low-income children, most of them infants and toddlers, are ineligible for the credit. As President, Chris Dodd will expand eligibility for the Child Tax Credit. He will also expand eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which lifts more than 2.5 million children out of poverty each year.
Make Women’s Health a Priority. Chris Dodd knows that while we have made incredible strides in focusing on women’s health in recent years, more must be done. As President, he will invest additional research dollars into diseases that disproportionately affect women and fund added research into how diseases and medicines affect women differently than men. He will provide universal health care with special emphasis on prevention and screenings for diseases such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer and heart disease. A strong supporter of a woman’s right to choose, Chris Dodd will also ensure access to women’s contraceptive services and equity in prescription drug coverage.
CHRIS DODD: A RECORD OF RESULTS FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES
Authored the Family and Medical Leave Act. Chris Dodd authored the Family and Medical Leave Act and fought for seven years, overcoming two presidential vetoes, until it became law. Since passage, an estimated 50 million workers have been allowed to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a new child or a sick family member.
Passed Landmark Child Care Legislation. Chris Dodd authored the Child Care and Development Block Grant program which has provided billions of dollars in federal aid to improve the quality of child care and help low-income families cope with its high cost. In recognition of his work to improve access to safe, quality child care services, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies awarded Dodd the “Lifetime Leadership Award for Quality Child Care.”
Supports a Woman’s Right to Choose. In 1995, Chris Dodd was an early supporter of the Women's Choice and Reproductive Health Protection Act, which would have codified the Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a woman’s right to choose into federal law. He has also co-sponsored the Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Act, which provided increased access to contraceptive services for women in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies and ensure equity in prescription drug coverage.
Supports Affirmative Action for Women and Minorities. In 1998, Chris Dodd voted to continue the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, which requires that the federal government set aside at least ten percent of federally-funded highway projects for businesses owned by women and minorities. He also praised the landmark 2003 Supreme Court decision upholding the University of Michigan’s affirmative action policy, saying that “every American deserves a chance to go as far as their ability and effort will take them- regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity or economic circumstances. This decision reaffirms that vital principle.”
Worked to Prevent Violence Against Women. Chris Dodd was an early supporter of the Violence Against Women Act. He authored and won passage of legislation that expanded state child protective service programs, and helped author a bill that increased funds for shelter, emergency relief, and counseling services to victims of domestic violence. In addition, Dodd cosponsored the SAFE Act, which would ensure victims of domestic violence are allowed 30 days of unpaid leave from work to make necessary court appearances, contact law enforcement officials or make alternative housing arrangements, without the fear of being fired or demoted.
Fought to Protect Women’s Health. In 1992, Chris Dodd authored legislation that increased the percentage of federal substance abuse treatment funds devoted to pregnant women. He also cosponsored the Mammography Quality Standards Act, which mandated quality control standards for providers of mammography screenings. He was an early supporter of the Women’s Health Equity Act, which sought to expand research on women’s health issues and establish the Office of Women’s Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. He also cosponsored a measure that would require health plans that provide maternity benefits to provide hospital coverage for new mothers and newborns for at least 48 hours, ending “drive-thru deliveries.”
Supports the Equal Rights Amendment. Chris Dodd is a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.
Worked to Strengthen the Equal Pay Act. Chris Dodd has cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen the landmark Equal Pay Act that mandates equal pay for women and men who do equal work.
