Women

Directs VA to examine gender differences in prevalence, treatment

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner today successfully amended S.1407, a military construction and veterans appropriations bill, to include language directing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to study how it addresses combat stress in women veterans. A final vote on S.1407 is expected later this afternoon.

The amendment, co-sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Kay Hagan (NC), Dianne Feinstein (CA) and Barbara Boxer (CA), directs the VA to examine the gender differences in the prevalence and diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other combat-related conditions.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) today introduced House Resolution 904, honoring women who have served or are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. If passed, the resolution would recognize the expanding role of women in the military and their important contributions to America's military operations at home and abroad.

"Today, I am proud to honor the strength and accomplishments of our women in uniform," said Rep. Sanchez. "It is absolutely necessary to recognize that women are now engaging in frontline duties, fighting beside our male soldiers. Moving forward, it is imperative that we continue to give our servicewomen the tools they need to serve safely and effectively in combat."

The full text of H. Res. 904 can be found below:    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC -- November 10, 2009 – Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, released the following statement committing herself to vote against health care reform that erodes a woman’s right to choose. As a co-chair of the Congressional Women’s Caucus and member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Rep. Schakowsky has fought to expand women’s rights and improve health care for all women. Rep. Schakowsky has added her name to letters that are being sent to the President and the Speaker, plainly establishing her position.    » read more »

750 families will be positively impacted by the partnership

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Nov. 10, 2009 – As a part of their commitment to women’s empowerment, Walmart and CARE announced the launch of a Cashew Value Chain Initiative. As part of the Walmart Foundation’s $1 million grant to CARE, a leading humanitarian organization, this project marks the first of a series of initiatives to elevate women from poverty worldwide.

Over the next year, Walmart and CARE will create a women owned-and-operated community-based institution to provide more equitable and consistent incomes for approximately 750 women in the cashew farming and processing sector in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu State in Southern India, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam.    » read more »

Statement By Cecile Richards, President, Planned Parenthood Federation Of America Condemning Passage Of Stupak/Pitts Amendment

“Planned Parenthood condemns the adoption of the Stupak/Pitts amendment in HR 3962 this evening. This amendment is an unacceptable addition to the health care reform bill that, if enacted, would result in women losing health benefits they have today. Simply put, the Stupak/Pitts amendment would restrict women’s access to abortion coverage in the private health insurance market, undermining the ability of women to purchase private health plans that cover abortion, even if they pay for most of the premiums with their own money.    » read more »

November 07, 2009 -- "Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Stupak/Pitts amendment which plainly discriminates against women, puts women’s health at risk, and marks an unprecedented restriction on people who pay for their own health insurance.    » read more »

Amendment Further Restricts Women's Access to Reproductive Healthcare

November 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) will take to the House floor to speak in strong opposition to the Stupak amendment which would restrict women’s access to abortion services. The Stupak amendment also significantly departs from the status quo of federal policy related to abortion coverage and undermines efforts to maintain the principle of abortion neutrality in comprehensive health insurance reform legislation.    » read more »

November 2, 2009 -- Healthy pregnant women mount a robust immune response following just one dose of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, according to initial results from an ongoing clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health.

“For pregnant women, who are among the most vulnerable to serious health problems from 2009 H1N1 infection, these initial results are very reassuring,” says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “The immune responses seen in these healthy pregnant women are comparable to those seen in healthy adults at the same time point after a single vaccination, and the vaccine has been well tolerated.”    » read more »

Nordic countries continue to have the smallest equality gaps between men and women

New York, USA, 27 October – Iceland (1) has claimed the top spot of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2009 from Norway (3) which slipped to third position behind Finland (2). Sweden (4) completed the Nordic countries’ continued dominance of the top four. The report’s Index assesses countries on how well they are dividing their resources and opportunities among their male and female populations, regardless of the overall levels of these resources and opportunities.    » read more »

Participation in Stress Management Program Results in Increased Pregnancy Rate

Skillman, NJ (October 19, 2009) – Women who participated in a stress management program prior to or during their second IVF cycle had a 160 percent greater pregnancy rate than women who did not participate in a program, according to a study presented today at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s 65th Annual Meeting.    » read more »

Sánchez Works to Make Similar Federal Law

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), applauded California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing state legislation into law to end gender discrimination in health insurance premiums. The new law will prevent health insurers from charging men and women different rates for the same health insurance policies in the individual market.    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Women’s Working Group joined leaders from women’s organizations for a press conference outside the Capitol this afternoon to discuss how women stand to gain the most from health insurance reform. Women will continue to face discrimination in both coverage and cost if health reform fails. Below are the Speaker’s opening statement and closing remarks.

On Why Health Insurance Reform is Essential for Women:    » read more »

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Jim Matheson -- speaking at a hearing before the Health subcommittee Wednesday—told colleagues that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for Utah women. He urged support for several bills designed to improve education, treatment and screen programs for the disease.

“Everyone has been touched by cancer. I hope we will make significant strides in research, education and screening,” said Matheson. “Though the national incidence rate of breast cancer among women is much higher than Utah ’s, Utah ’s mortality rate is the same because a higher percentage of Utah women are diagnosed in the cancer’s later stages. If breast cancer is caught early, survival is much more likely.”    » read more »

Washington, Oct 7 - Congresswoman Kathy Castor, working to eliminate disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, advocated her bill today during a significant hearing on the Subcommittee on Health. The Eliminating Disparities in Breast Cancer Treatment Act of 2009 will create incentives and requirements for adequate care for all women, regardless of race, income or health insurance status.    » read more »

U.S. and African leaders highlighted economic impediments facing women in Africa and strategies to unleash their economic potential.

WASHINGTON -- Oct. 5, 2009 -- A summit meeting on U.S.-Africa business opportunities drew government, private sector, and civil society leaders from around the world last week to discuss ways to improve women’s economic opportunities. The event included ExxonMobil executive Sara Ortwein, who praised The Corporate Council on Africa for its focus on women and led a roundtable discussion on strategies to promote women's economic development.    » read more »