[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WOMEN ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY

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                           HON. RUSS CARNAHAN

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 31, 2009

  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, today, as Women's History Month comes to 
a close it is a good time to reflect on the many accomplishments women 
have been part of and to address what needs to be done further to fully 
carry out equality for all and get our economy back on track.
  As we experience the most serious economic crisis since the Great 
Depression we will need the leadership of all Americans including 
strong leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi who was the first woman chosen 
as Speaker by her colleagues and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who 
ran an historic campaign for the presidency. Both who have broken and 
shattered the glass ceiling have demonstrated remarkable accomplishment 
the nation can be confident in during these tough times.
  This nation has faced multiple challenges that we have faced with the 
help of strong women. And today many women face challenges of 
succeeding in the workplace, caring for their family including their 
aging parents. I am proud of the work this Congress has done in a short 
amount of time for American working women.
  It is telling that President Barack Obama's first bill signed into 
law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that reverses a Supreme Court 
ruling that made it more difficult for Americans to pursue pay 
discrimination claims. At a time when too many workers are seeing their 
jobs and wages slashed, we've got to make sure that all Americans are 
paid fairly for their hard work.
  Congress has also passed significant tax cuts for working women and 
major investments in health care. To help get us out of this economic 
mess we also created thousands of jobs where women have new 
opportunities including contracting opportunities and the availability 
of small business loans.
  Speaker Pelosi said it best: ``Women want what men want: an equal 
opportunity to succeed, a safe and prosperous America, good paying 
jobs, better access to affordable health care, and the best possible 
education for our children.''
  President Obama and this Congress have made progress with all those 
issues in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will continue 
to build upon those accomplishments with the passage of the President's 
budget blueprint, which makes investments in health care, energy and 
education--all intended to create jobs.

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