[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9308 of August 24, 2015

Women's Equality Day, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On August 26, 1920, after years of agitating to break down the barriers
that stood between them and the ballot box, American women won the right
to vote. On the front lines of pickets and protests, champions from
every corner of our country banded together to expand this fundamental
freedom to women and forge a path toward fairer representation and
greater opportunity. As we celebrate 95 years since the certifi

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cation of the 19th Amendment, let us demonstrate our commitment to the
belief that we are all entitled to equal treatment by supporting
policies that help women succeed and thrive.
Since this historic achievement, our country has made great progress in
building a freer and fairer society, and we continue striving to fully
realize justice and equality for all. There is still more to do to
secure the promise of our Nation for everyone, including ensuring that
women have equal opportunities to participate in the classroom, the
economy, the workplace, and our democracy. From day one, my
Administration has carried forward the torch of gender equality, working
tirelessly to ensure that all of America's daughters have the same
rights as her sons.
When women succeed, America succeeds. That is why I am committed to
fighting for equal pay for equal work, and why the first bill I signed
into law as President was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which
extended the time period for employees to file complaints of
compensation discrimination. I continue to support passage of the
Paycheck Fairness Act because there is no reason why an earnings gap
between men and women should persist in the 21st century. Women account
for more than half of all workers who would benefit from an increase in
the minimum wage, and I have called on the Congress to raise the minimum
wage and signed an executive order to raise it to $10.10 for individuals
working on new Federal service contracts. I have also proposed expanding
overtime protections for certain groups of salaried employees--many of
whom are women--and worked to ensure all Americans have access to
quality, affordable child care while they are on the job or in school.
And because no woman should have to worry about being fired from her job
for missing a day of work when she is sick, caring for a sick family
member, or welcoming a new child into her family, we have supported
States, communities, and businesses in expanding policies for paid
family leave and paid sick days. Additionally, we have called on the
Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act to allow employees to earn
sick leave.
Women deserve to make their own health care choices without interference
from politicians or insurance companies. The Affordable Care Act expands
insurance coverage for vital health services for women, including
contraceptive care, prenatal care, and maternal care, and it protects
women from being charged more than men simply based on gender.
Finally, every woman should have the chance to dream, grow, and thrive
free from intimidation or violence, and my Administration has taken
unprecedented steps to end domestic and sexual violence. We convened a
White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, and
launched It's On Us--a campaign aimed at raising awareness of and
preventing sexual assault on college campuses. These are part of our
broader effort to make sure that all survivors of sexual assault and
domestic violence are supported and that our laws are fully enforced.
Women's equality is a core civil and human rights principle in the
United States and around the world. Across America, women are
contributing to our economy and our Nation in innovative and exciting
ways. From businesses to battlefields, women are vital to the prosperity
and security of our country. As we celebrate the last 95 years of
progress in advancing women's rights, let us rededicate ourselves to

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the idea that our Nation is not yet complete: there is still work to do
to secure the blessings of our country for every American daughter.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2015, as
Women's Equality Day. I call upon the people of the United States to
celebrate the achievements of women and promote gender equality in our
country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day
of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA