[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 162 (Monday, November 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF NOW-NYC'S 35TH ANNUAL SUSAN B. ANTHONY AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 2, 2015

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay 
tribute to the women who are receiving the 2015 Susan B. Anthony award 
from the New York City chapter of the National Organization for Women 
(NOW-NYC) for their efforts in promoting equal rights for women. Each 
year, NOW-NYC recognizes grassroots activists who have worked to 
improve the lives of women and girls in New York City. This year's 
honorees are Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Krystal C., and Tamar Kraft-
Stolar.
  Committed to giving women a voice, NOW-NYC strives to promote 
reproductive rights, empower women economically, and end the violence 
and discrimination that women face. The organization provides a myriad 
of resources for issues relating to housing, police misconduct, and 
child-custody. NOW-NYC is a leading advocate of women's rights and a 
force for justice. Among other things, their volunteers escort women to 
reproductive health clinics, advocate for legislation such as anti-
trafficking provisions and lead open discussions on the status of women 
in politics today. As the largest NOW chapter in the country, NOW-NYC 
plays a fundamental role in shaping the local and national debate on 
women's issues.
  Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, author of four groundbreaking reports on 
African American women and the unique struggles they face in America, 
has received national acclaim for the attention she draws to the 
challenges women of color face. Professor Crenshaw, a law professor at 
UCLA and Columbia, is a leading theorist on Black feminism and civil 
rights. An advocate for a gender-inclusive approach to racial justice, 
she is also the co-founder and Executive Director of the African 
American Policy Forum, a gender and racial justice think tank. 
Professor Crenshaw is co-author of the groundbreaking reports, Black 
Girls Matter: Pushed Out, Overpoliced and Underprotected, and Say Her 
Name: Resisting Police Brutality Against Black Women.
  Former New York Jets cheerleader turned women's rights activist, 
Krystal C., is taking a stand against unfair wage practices by 
professional football teams. As a Jets cheerleader, she was paid just 
$150 per game and $100 per special event, and was not compensated for 
practice time, training camp and other appearances. Based on hours 
actually worked, she was receiving only $3.77 an hour, significantly 
below the state's minimum wage. She was also required to incur out-of-
pocket expenses for motivational gifts, uniform maintenance and hair 
straightening. Krystal filed a class action lawsuit against the Jets.
  Tamar Kraft-Stolar, Co-Director of the Women and Justice Project 
(WJP), is committed to advocating on behalf of women who are 
imprisoned. WJP is dedicated to ending the mass incarceration of women. 
Before joining WJP, she managed the Correctional Association of New 
York's Women in Prison Project for over a decade. As a leader on 
incarceration reform, Ms. Kraft-Stolar spearheaded the very successful 
campaign to pass legislation ending the shackling of incarcerated women 
during childbirth.
  Additionally Miyhosi Benton, Bridgette Gibbs, Ursulina Miranda, Tina 
Tinen, and Maria Ventura are being recognized for their efforts to end 
the inhumane practice of shackling incarcerated pregnant women in New 
York.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring NOW-NYC and 
the 2015 Susan B. Anthony Award recipients for their perseverance and 
advocacy in the fight to end injustice and ensure equality for women.

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