CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE CELEBRATES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

(Rochester, NY) - Today, Congressman Joe Morelle joined with local advocates at Willow Domestic Violence Center to recognize Women’s History Month. Rep. Morelle highlighted a comprehensive package of legislation he sponsors to support women’s rights and pushed for continued action to advance women’s rights.

“This month is a time to reflect on the many contributions of women throughout history and recognize the need for our continued vigilance in the fight for equal rights,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “From the ensuring the fundamental right to choose, to establishing pay equity, to supporting survivors of domestic violence—I’ve always been a vocal advocate to protect and expand women’s rights. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made, but there is still so much more to be done. I'm committed to working alongside my partners in government and across the community to ensure all women have the full equality they deserve.”

Women are facing serious threats to their basic and essential rights across the country. Rep. Morelle has taken important steps to combat these efforts and uphold women’s rights, including passing legislation last week to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to deliver critical resources for survivors of domestic and sexual assault. Morelle has also co-sponsored legislation and voted to strengthen women’s health services, close the gender wage gap, support reproductive and maternal health, and more. Specifically, he supports:

• Women’s Health Protection Act: Seeks to stop oppressive state laws restricting women's access to reproductive health services.

• Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act: Implements critical protections and support to combat domestic violence and sexual assault.

• Paycheck Fairness Act: Strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to eliminate wage discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, and sex characteristics and guarantees that individuals can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable

• Equal Rights Amendment: To remove the arbitrary expiration date that has prevented the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
• John Lewis Voting Rights Act: To protect the hard-fought right to vote in free and fair elections. 
• Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act: To improve maternal health for Black women and other women and birthing people of color.
• American Family Act: Makes the Child Tax Credit permanent, allowing mother’s the flexibility to enter the workforce.
• Childcare for Working Families Act: Ensures no family under 150 percent of state median income pays more than seven percent of their income on child care.
• The EACH Act: To ensure women enrolled in government health insurance plans have coverage for abortion care.
• Caring for our Women Veterans Act: Strengthen health care and treatment provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to women veterans.

“Simply put, VAWA saves lives. Every day, Willow advocates work with survivors in the Greater Rochester community who experience abuse. By reinstating VAWA, our congressional leaders directly impacted hundreds of thousands of survivors – of all genders – and their children who have been subjected to domestic violence or sexual assault. This reauthorization places critical life-saving funds in our community, keeping doors open for multiple agencies that work together to respond to violence, homelessness, inequity, and trauma. Women’s rights are human rights and we are proud to stand with our partners in support,” said Meaghan de Chateauvieux, Willow President & CEO.

“As we celebrate and acknowledge women’s history month, I am reminded of the reality that 80% of Rochester’s children living in poverty are within households led by mothers, said County Legislator Yversha Roman, Co-founder of Rochester Equal Pay Coalition. “Women are the foundation of our society and when we lift them and their voices--we all thrive. I am honored to continue the advocacy needed for things like salary range transparency and women health protection.”

“At PPCWNY, we envision a world where an individual’s health, rights, and ambitions are valued and protected equally, regardless of their gender identity, said Michelle Casey, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Central & Western New York. “As we celebrate Women’s History Month against the backdrop of unspeakably cruel attacks on the rights of women, we applaud the long-overdue passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The reauthorization of the VAWA is an essential step towards truly protecting and advancing the rights of women, and I thank Representative Morelle for championing this legislation. To honor women, this month and always, we must work in solidarity in the fight for their rights. There is so much work left to be done, and we stand ready for the coming challenges”.     

“Although women are starting businesses at a high rate, many unique challenges still exist,” said Khara Grant, Director of the Rochester Women’s Business Center. “RWBC’s goal is to leverage and deploy all of our resources to support women along their entrepreneurial journeys. Whether they’re figuring out how to start a business, or even scale their businesses. RWBC is there every step of the way.”

“Women are currently facing threats at every level of government across the whole country that has not been seen in many decades,” said Sarah Timmerman, President of Rochester NOW. “More than ever we need legislation such as VAWA and the equal rights amendment. I am glad that congressman Morelle is such a strong champion of our rights and is fighting for our most fundamental freedoms.”