WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in recognition of International Women’s Day:
“I join today in celebrating International Women’s Day and standing in solidarity with women across the country and the world who are fighting to make their voices heard and make a difference for equality. As we have been reminded over the past year, even at the highest levels of government, business, and society, women continue to face institutional barriers to advancement and the scourge of harassment in the workplace. The gender pay gap still denies women their fair share of earnings for the hard work they perform, and those who choose to start families often find it comes at the cost of setting back their careers, due to the high costs of child care. For immigrant women, the challenges of abuse and injustice are compounded by a broken system that makes it harder to seek help and redress. In America, we can and must do better, and around the world our country ought to be a beacon of hope for women still struggling under brutal systems of oppression, denial of rights, homophobia, transphobia, and institutional sexual violence.
“That’s why I will continue, along with my Democratic colleagues, to fight for policies that raise women’s wages, combat domestic violence and abuse, and make workplaces safer for all. It’s why Democrats will not rest until every woman’s right to make her own medical decisions is protected and every woman’s right to reach for her full potential in our economy is guaranteed. The fight for equality, which began at Seneca Falls, continued in marches for the vote and for equal rights, and today has found new expression in the Women’s Marches and #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, will surely carry on until every woman and girl can reach for her dreams without impediment. I look forward to continuing working with the outstanding women in the House Democratic Caucus and with equal rights organizations to carry this fight forward.”