Remarks by Laura Wilkinson During The Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee's Discussion On Women's Economic and Health Security July 9, 2014
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Legal MomentumRemarks by Laura Wilkinson During The Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee's Discussion On Women's Economic and Health Security July 9, 2014
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Remarks by Laura Wilkinson during the
Democratic Steering and Outreach Committees
discussion on womens economic and health security
July 9, 2014
Thank you Senators for convening this meeting, and for your interest in the issues facing women,
and indeed everyone. I represent Legal Momentum, the nations oldest legal defense and
education fund dedicated to advancing the rights of all women and girls.
As we talk about womens economic security, I want to remind everyone that as Vice President
Biden said several weeks ago -- domestic violence is central to any discussion of women's
economic issues. Regarding the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA),
Vice President Biden said: "You cannot talk about opportunity for women, unless you talk about
dealing with -- in the work environment -- the violence against them ... the domestic violence."
1
Although VAWA was reauthorized (for which we are exceedingly grateful), the one title (out of
9) that was not expanded at that time was the title that addressed the economic needs of
survivors. Though, as Senator Harkin may recall, the Healthy Families Act also was considered
for inclusion.
The importance of violence against women as a topic explains why members of Congress have
said that the issue of violence comes up consistently at "Women Succeed Events." It also
explains why we understand that in battleground states, violence against women ranks second in
terms of people's concerns - right after jobs.
These issues are linked for many people. The paid leave bills, many of which have been worked
on by state domestic violence coalitions, specifically address the needs of survivors. Survivors
also need to hear that, to quote Senator Leahy, "a victim is a victim," and that victims should not
lose their jobs just because they're victims:
As happened last year to a parochial school teacher in southern California who fought for
stronger anti-discrimination state laws and won; and
As is working its way through the courts in New York City right now because a survivor
employee of Chipotle was fired for having too many issues, in contravention of both
local and state laws.
In closing, thank you Senators for your interest in womens issues and the invitation to share our
views and express support for all the issues that have been raised, particularly as relates to the
needs of women and families, including single women, and survivors of domestic and sexual
violence.
1
During the White House Working Families Summit, 6/23/14, video available at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2014/06/23/vice-president-speaks-working-families-
summit (at 25:40).
