Thursday, January 30, 2014
President Obama Addresses Women's Issues at State of the Union
On Tuesday night, President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address in our nation’s capital before all distinguished members of Congress, and to millions of Americans watching at home. The President opened his address with saying that 2014 will be a “breakthrough year for America”, and hoped it would be a “year of action”. He urged Congress to draft legislation on a variety of issues like income inequality, immigration, energy, and education reform.
Here at the MWPC, we were very excited to hear the President address the issues of better workplace policies for women and equal pay for equal work. According to the President, the fact that women make up half of the workforce but still earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns is “wrong, and in 2014, it’s an embarrassment. Women deserve equal pay for equal work.” He then likened current workplace policies limiting a woman’s family planning to those found in a Mad Men episode, resulting in an enthusiastic applause by congresswomen and men alike.
President Obama not only called 2014 a year for action, but a year for opportunity. “Let’s all come together”, he says, “to give every women the opportunity she deserves, because I believe when women succeed, America succeeds.” The MWPC hopes the President and members of Congress make 2014 the year they prioritize closing the pay gap, and fixing workplace policies so that all women across our country have the opportunity to succeed!
Watch the enhanced version of the State of the Union with here.
Gabriela Coletta
