Essential Estrogen

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd held the first of three roundtable discussions this morning at House of Mercy in Des Moines while unveiling his plan for putting women and families first. He was joined at the event by Eva Bunnell, the woman whose story helped motivate him to author 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.

"Chris Dodd understands that women's rights have progressed in the last 50 years, but much more remains to be done," said Jennifer Lunsford, who serves on the Democratic State Central Committee and as chairwoman in Jefferson County. "I know he can work across the aisle to produce the policies that American women need."

Although nearly half the American workforce is now made up of women and women are more likely to have an advanced degree, women continue to compete on an uneven playing field. Today, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar men earn and face unique challenges balancing the demands of work and family.

“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 the original Family and Medical Leave Act to provide paid leave for workers who need to take time to care for their loved ones or themselves.

"I think Chris Dodd knows how to get results for women and families and bring people together," said Kay Hale, who serves as financial secretary for the Linn County Democratic Central Committee. "He brought both Democrats and Republicans to the table when he passed the Family and Medical Leave Act. I think he is the only candidate in the Democratic field who has such a strong record of results for women and American families."

During his tenure in the United States Senate, Dodd authored the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which improved the quality of child care and helped low-income families with affordability. As a result of the child care legislation, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies presented him the "Lifetime Leadership Award for Quality Child Care."

In 1995, Dodd was an early supporter of the Women's choice and Reproductive Health Protection Act, which would have codified the Roe v. Wade decision into federal law and ensured medical privacy. He also co-sponsored the Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Act that provided increased access to contraceptive services for women in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies and ensure equity in prescription drug coverage.

Dodd voted, in 1998, to continue the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program that required the federal government set aside at least 10 percent of federally-funding 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."

He was also an early supporter of the Violence Against Women Act (authored by Delaware Sen. Joe Biden). Dodd 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.

In 1992, 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, legislation that 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.

Finally, Dodd has cosponsored legislation -- the Paycheck Fairness Act -- that would strengthen the landmark Equal Pay Act that mandates equal pay for women and men who do equal work.

If elected, Dodd promised to create opportunity for women and support them by instituting the new paid family leave legislation, ensuring every woman receives a full day's pay for a full day's work, increasing access to high-quality and affordable child care, expanding the Child and Earned Income Tax Credits to provide an estimated $7 billion in tax relief for working and middle-class families and making women's health a priority.

In addition to the roundtable discussion and tour this morning, Dodd also introduced 44 members that wills serve on the "Women for Dodd" steering committee, including regional chairwomen Sarah Adams of Poweshiek County, Mary Baumhover of Carroll County, Deb Bowen of Des Moines County, Mary Ann Burris of Polk County, Beth Fermet of Story County, Kay Jackson of Linn County, Linda Louko of Johnson County, Joyce Schulte of Union County and Karen Thalacker of Bremer County.

Women named to the steering committee are:

• Bremer County
  • Karen Thalacker
  • Chris Rediske
• Carroll County
  • Mary Baumhover
• Cass County
  • Marilyn Miller
• Des Moines County
  • Deb Bowen
• Harrison County
  • Vi Buttery
  • Lydia Caldiera
  • Renee Springston
  • Autumn Springston
  • Summer Springston
  • Laura Stokes
• Jefferson County
  • Jennifer Lunsford
• Johnson County
  • Linda Louko
  • Laurie Finn
  • Hazel Hargrove
  • Helen Kottman
  • Katherine Nicholson
  • Meredith Place
  • Lynne Stamus
  • Gloria Wallace
• Linn County
  • Kay Jackson
  • Kathy Bass
  • Rebecca Clark
  • Kay Hale
  • Colleen Mehaffey
  • Marvalee Vuichard
• Polk County
  • Mary Ann Burris
  • Kathy Elsner
  • Ricki Pashler
  • Rose Mary Pratt
  • Jenelle Sarcone
• Pottawattamie County
  • Mary Lou McGinn
• Poweshiek County
  • Sarah Adams
  • Delores Mulvihill
• Scott County
  • Caryl Bucksbaum
  • Jan Coffenberry
  • Betty Gray
  • Ruth Hancock
  • Alice Hospers
  • Karen McKeown
  • Darlyne Neff
  • Marilyn Whittaker
• Story County
  • Beth Fermet
• Union County
  • Joyce Schulte

Following the Des Moines roll out this morning, Dodd is holding roundtable events in Cedar Rapids at Jane Boyd Community House and in Davenport at Family Resources, Inc.