Hirono, Blunt Rochester, McIver Lead Colleagues in Introducing Working Women’s Bill of Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), along with Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), led 16 of their colleagues in introducing a Working Women's Bill of Rights. The resolution recognizes the duty of Congress to meet the needs of working women. Women comprise nearly half of the nation's workforce, serving as leaders in vital industries like education, health care, public service, and caregiving. The resolution, introduced during Women's History Month and the week of Equal Pay Day, recognizes Congress's obligation to address recent executive and administrative actions that have caused disproportionate harm to women's workplace rights, freedoms, and protections, by safeguarding workers from unequal treatment.

"From unequal pay to a lack of professional advancement, gender inequity and discrimination in the workplace are still far too common in our country despite the critical work women do," said Senator Hirono. "Now, as Trump and Republicans continue attacking workplace rights, freedoms, and protections, I am proud to introduce this resolution recognizing the important work women do across our country and reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding gender equity in the workplace."

"Women across America are bearing the brunt of wealth inequality, discrimination in the workplace, and stifled professional advancement - and the Trump administration's harmful policies are making things worse," said Senator Blunt Rochester. "I'm proud to be introducing a Working Women's Bill of Rights alongside Senator Hirono and Congresswoman McIver because these disparities - which are heightened for women of color - are simply unacceptable. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle stand up for economic justice."

"It's no surprise that working women are being forced to bear the burden of Trump's disastrous economic policies-he has shown us over and over again that he doesn't care about us," said Representative McIver. "We are seeing bleak statistics: an increasing wage gap and a sharp rise in unemployment. And there's a real human cost to those numbers. Women are shouldering that cost, as this president so often forces them to do. I introduced this resolution to sound the alarm because no one should be able to bully women out of their rightful place in the economy. As much as this administration wants to ignore us, we're demanding Trump and Republicans' attention to the damage they are doing to women."

"Trump and Republicans have failed working women at every turn. More than 450,000 women left the workplace last year because of rising child care costs, job loss, and Trump's attacks on federal employees. Our women workers-many who balance the demands of work and caretaking-deserve far better," said Representative Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus. "Women workers deserve a better future with fair pay, protections from discrimination, support when we're pregnant or caring for loved ones, and an affordable life. The Democratic Women's Caucus reaffirms our commitment to fighting for that better future today and every single day."

The resolution is endorsed by A Better Balance, Advocates for Trans Equality, American Association of University Women, Arise Chicago, Asset Building Strategies, Black Labor Week Project Inc., Center for Economic and Policy Research, Center for Law and Social Policy, Chicago Women in Trades, Clearinghouse on Women's Issues, Community Change Action, Economic Policy Institute, Equal Rights Advocates, Family Values @ Work, Family Values @ Work Action, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Feminist Majority, Institute for Women's Policy Research, Jobs with Justice, Justice for Migrant Women, Maine Women's Lobby, MANA, A National Latina Organization, Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable, MomsRising, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation/Black Women's Roundtable, National Council of Jewish Women, National Employment Law Project, National Immigration Law Center, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Urban League, National Women's Law Center, Oxfam America, Paid Leave for All Action, PHI, Raise The Floor Alliance, Reproductive Freedom for All, Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, The Restaurant Opportunities Center of Pennsylvania, United for Respect, Women Employed, and YWCA USA.

"When women have what they need to not only survive, but thrive, it benefits everyone," said Emily Martin, Chief Program Officer at the National Women's Law Center. "But today baseline protections for women in the workplace are under attack, as the Trump administration seeks to coerce employers into rejecting the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion that open doors to opportunity. This puts the 75 million working women in this country at risk-especially women of color, mothers, and low-wage workers. At a time when women's rights and protections are being targeted, lawmakers must urgently address the economic challenges facing women across the country by showing up for safety, dignity, and equality at work."

"Too many women are still being forced to make impossible choices between caring for themselves and their families or risking losing their paychecks and jobs," said Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women and Families. "When women lack access to fair pay, safe workplaces, and other essential support they need, the impact is felt at every level, from the financial stability of our households to the strength of our economy as a whole."

"Women's economic security drives progress. But at every turn, that progress is under threat. From the disproportionate number of Black women who've faced job loss, to policies that have eroded access to affordable education, reproductive health care, and quality child care," said Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, President and CEO of the Institute for Women's Policy Research. "As the leading national think tank committed to promoting research that improves the lives and economic well-being of all women, the Institute for Women's Policy Research is proud to support this important resolution that calls on Congress to implement the evidence-informed solutions to addressing the needs of working women to help them, their families, and communities thrive and the nation prosper."

In addition to Senators Hirono and Blunt Rochester, the resolution was cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).

In addition to Representatives McIver, DeLauro, and Leger Fernandez, the resolution was also cosponsored by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

The full text of the resolution is available here.

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