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Council on Women and Girls Blog

  • Moms Champions

    Posted by Kathleen Sebelius on September 30, 2013 at 8:10 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: This blog is cross-posted from The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

    Do you remember?  For many of us, mom was the first—and best—health care provider we ever had.  Cleaning off a scraped knee or filling a prescription for chicken soup, mom played a vital role in our early health. Her love and attention showed us that health care was better when it was delivered with compassion. 

    Mom was always there for us and it’s something we never forget. 

    As children get older, a mother’s role changes.  No longer magically wielding thermometers or gently pulling off Band-Aids with the utmost care, a mom becomes a vital source for advice. Kids – young and old – trust mom to tell it like it is.

    As the mom of two grown boys, I know the immeasurable value of a mother’s voice. I know the feeling of wanting to help kids stay safe and healthy.

    That’s why helping moms learn about health care options for their kids is one of my top priorities.

    I want to make sure moms across the country understand the new opportunities for their families as we approach the beginning of open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

    Starting tomorrow, and continuing through March 2014, Americans that lack access to affordable coverage will be able to apply, compare plans, and enroll in the Marketplace, with  coverage beginning as early as January 1, 2014.

    These plans will cover essential services like maternity care, hospitalizations, doctor’s visits, and prescription drugs.  These plans also cap out-of-pocket costs, can’t place an annual limit on coverage, and can’t charge you more because you’re a woman or have a pre-existing condition.

    And for nearly 6 in 10 of the uninsured Americans, coverage will be available for $100 or less per month.

    The good news is that we’re not alone in trying to get the word out. Programs like text4baby, and organizations like MomsRising, and the What to Expect Foundation are committed to joining us as we begin to educate moms about the Marketplace.  We’re calling these organizations “Champions for Coverage.”

    Champions for Coverage are local businesses, organizations, bloggers, community health centers, hospitals, and faith communities. They will use publicly available materials – both digital and in print – to help members of their communities understand their new options through the Marketplace.

    I want to send my sincerest thanks to organizations like these. We always knew we couldn’t do this important work alone.

    For millions of Americans, better health care options are on the way – as long as they know to sign up.

    In Case You Missed It: View a full recap of the HealthCare.gov, Moms Rising, and text4baby #GetCovered Twitter chat .

    To see the list of Champions for Coverage visit: http://marketplace.cms.gov/help-us/champion.html.

    Learn more about the Marketplace and how to get ready to enroll at HealthCare.gov or call the Health Insurance Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

    Kathleen Sebelius is the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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  • Investing In Women and Girls Is An Investment In Our Future

    Posted by Valerie Jarrett on September 26, 2013 at 2:31 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: This blog is cross posted from The Huffington Post

    Ayo Megbope is a graduate of Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women program, and the owner of “No Leftovers Nigeria”, a catering company and restaurant in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo provided by “Goldman Sachs | 10,000 Women”

    Ayo Megbope is a graduate of Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women program, and the owner of “No Leftovers Nigeria”, a catering company and restaurant in Lagos, Nigeria. (by "Goldman Sachs | 10,000 Women”)

    With a broad smile, and a gleam in her eyes, Ayo Megbope sat beside me, and shared story after story about the humble beginnings of her business, cooking bean cakes in her fourth-floor apartment, wrapping them in banana leaves, and selling them throughout her community in Lagos, Nigeria.  It was September of 2009, and we were seated together at the first annual Goldman Sachs “10,000 Women” Dinner in New York City.  Ayo was one of the first graduates of the 10,000 Women program, which helps women entrepreneurs around the world obtain the training and access to capital they need to turn their business dreams into reality.

    Almost exactly four years later, I was back in New York City, forging partnerships, and working to secure new public and private sector commitments to promote the success and empowerment of women and girls.

    My first stop was to co-host a United Nations General Assembly event with Secretary of State, John Kerry, and U.S. Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues Cathy Russell, marking the one year anniversary of the day former Secretary Hillary Clinton and I launched the Equal Futures Partnership.  Equal Futures was developed in response to President Obama’s call at the 2011 UN General Assembly, for his fellow heads of state to join him in breaking down economic and political barriers that prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential. 

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  • Ending Violence Against Women: 19 Years of Progress

    Posted by Lynn Rosenthal on September 13, 2013 at 1:32 PM EDT

    Today marks the 19th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). As the original author and champion of VAWA, Vice President Biden brought national attention to what had too-long been a hidden problem. Then-Senator Biden held the first hearing on violence against women in the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1990 and introduced the first version of the Act that same year. After five years of hearings exposing the extent of rape, battering and stalking, the Act finally passed Congress and was signed into law by President Clinton on September 13, 1994.

    The initial VAWA legislation focused on changing law enforcement practices, improving the criminal justice system, and increasing access to shelters and services for victims. VAWA strengthened the federal criminal code, creating interstate crimes of domestic violence and doubling penalties for repeat sex offenders. And, VAWA sparked the passage of hundreds of laws at the state level to protect victims and hold offenders accountable. Since 1994, VAWA has sent billions of dollars to states and local communities to develop a coordinated response to domestic violence, dating violence sexual assault, and stalking.  

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  • Proud to Be a Girl - A Visit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory

    Posted by Dot Harris on August 22, 2013 at 3:20 PM EDT

    Ed. note: This is crossposted from energy.gov/diversity. See the original post here.

    There’s an old axiom that you can’t be what you can’t see. Perhaps if you think about what inspired you to enter into your current job, or line of study, you’ll recognize a role model or two that inspired you to take your current path.

    The Energy Department has this axiom in mind when examining ways to address the serious shortage of females engaged in STEM in the United States. That’s why I am part of the White House Council on Women and Girls STEM Speakers Bureau, adding outreach sessions about my work in STEM to my travel whenever I am out of the District for meetings. Earlier this month, I met with middle school girls from the east Nashville area, who drove in to Oak Ridge National Laboratory for a full lab tour and to speak with me about their visions for pursing a career in STEM. The visit connected the girls with STEM professionals and showed them what a bustling, state of the art National Laboratory has to offer.

    Hear directly from the girls on their experience at Oak Ridge National Laboratory:

    “I had an awesome time at Oak Ridge.  I learned a lot of new things about STEM.  The machines, and the way mercury travels and is used is interesting.  The scientists we met were so smart.  I may have a job using STEM one day.” - Antonya Jones, 8th grader at Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School.

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  • Protecting the Planet for Our Children

    Posted by Gina McCarthy on July 31, 2013 at 6:05 PM EDT

    Ed. note: This is cross-posted from the EPA Blog.

    Protecting the Planet for Our Children

    Administrator Gina McCarthy at Harvard Law School. July 30, 2013. (Photo Courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency)

    Yesterday I had the honor and privilege of speaking at Harvard Law School about the future of EPA – our challenges, and our incredible opportunities. The highlight of my day, however, wasn’t the fact that I got to speak about issues that I care very deeply about. About how working to fight climate change can serve as an economic driver, helping create new jobs, new industries and new innovation. It wasn’t even that I got to stand in front of many of the environmental heroes who have paved the way before me. The highlight for me came when one my children – my daughter, Maggie – got behind the podium and introduced me before my first speech as the new EPA Administrator, in front of my younger daughter, Julie, who was all smiles in the front row.

    I think about all of my children – Maggie, Julie and Dan – when I go to work every morning. Because after all, the work we do is about the generations that will come after us, and the planet that we will leave behind. As I mentioned yesterday, I have a lot of hope for the next generation. And it’s my goal to make sure that we get out of the way and let them do what we know they will do – which is to ensure that we have a sustainable economy and a protected environment.

    We have challenges ahead, there’s no doubt about that. And it’s a pivotal moment for all of us to address those challenges. As parents – as Americans – it’s our job to face the challenges of a changing climate, of carbon pollution, of aging water infrastructure, of toxic chemicals head on. It is our responsibility to leave behind an environment that Maggie, Julie and Dan will be proud of. That’s what the goal is here.

    Gina McCarthy is the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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  • Equal Pay for Equal Work

    Posted by Valerie B. Jarrett on June 10, 2013 at 5:55 PM EDT

    President Barack Obama delivers remarks commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act

    President Barack Obama delivers remarks commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, in the East Room of the White House, June 10, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

    Today, we marked the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Equal Pay Act with an event at the White House hosted by President Obama, the release of an important report from the National Equal Pay Task Force on the last fifty years since the Act was signed, a new web page with resources and information for women to make sure they’re paid equally, and a new video that gives an overview of our progress in equal pay.

    On June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, a milestone piece of legislation that requires men and women receive equal pay for equal work. However, fifty years later, women are still only earning approximately 77 cents on the dollar compared to men, and even less for women of color, so we are far from ready to declare victory.

    To mark today’s anniversary, President Obama spoke at the event attended by leaders in the government, private sector and civil society who are all committed to  building a 21st century workplace.

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