By Rep. Lois Frankel, The Hill “[Countries] should take all appropriate measures to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, universal access to health-care services, including those related to reproductive health care, which includes family planning and sexual health.” — International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (1994) For women to lead full productive lives, they must have the freedom to make the health care choices that are best for them. And when wome... Read more

Washington, DC – On Friday, Co-Chairs of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Representatives Lois Frankel (FL-21), Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Vice Chairs Representatives Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Deb Haaland (NM-01) were joined by 57 colleagues in filing an amicus brief to the D.C. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in National Women’s Law Center v. Office of Management and Budget, opposing the Trump Administration’s appeal to overturn an order requiring the Equ... Read more

VIDEO: Democratic Women’s Caucus Announces Bold Policy Agenda for 116th Congress Co-Chairs Frankel, Lawrence, Speier & Vice Chairs Escobar, Haaland release core principles and robust legislative priorities to support women & families WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) released their policy priorities for the 116th Congress, which lays out a diverse and progressive legislative agenda that will benefit the lives of women and their families across the country. Included in t... Read more

Washington, DC – Today, 54 Members of Congress joined Congresswomen Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) in sending a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) opposing its decision to halt progress towards closing the gender and racial wage gap. The letter states in part, “In 2016, the Obama Administration directed the EEOC to collect pay data from large companies. This data is vital to helping the EEOC detect patterns of pay discrimination and enforce equal pay laws.... Read more

Washington, DC – Last week, Congressman Bill Keating introduced H.R. 4097, the Afghan Women’s Inclusion in Negotiations Act” or the Afghan WIN Act. Said Congressman Keating of the bill: “Women’s participation in peace negotiations has time and time again proven to lead to more lasting peace agreements. That is why we introduced the Afghan WIN Act: so that everything that Americans, Afghans, and allies alike have fought for and sacrificed to secure a peaceful and stable future for Afghanistan has... Read more

Washington, DC – Co-Chairs of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), Congresswomen Jackie Speier (CA-14), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), and DWC Vice Chairs, Congresswomen Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Deb Haaland (NM-01), introduced the Even Playing Field Act of 2019 today with 28 cosponsors to ensure equal pay, investment, and working conditions for amateur athletes and other team personnel. Senator Feinstein (D-CA) is leading companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. The U.S. ... Read more

Washington, DC – On the heels of the women’s national soccer team’s fourth FIFA World Cup title, Representatives Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Kathy Castor (FL-14) are introducing the Athletics Fair Pay Act, which would require equal pay and compensation for all Olympic and amateur athletes. This bill recognizes that female athletes deserve equal pay for doing the same work. It was introduced in the Senate by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Patty Murray (D-WA). The women’s national soccer team h... Read more

Washington, DC – Today, an amendment introduced by Representatives Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) ensuring the U.S. government accounts for women’s unique roles as preventers, participants and victims of violent extremism passed in the House as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. The amendment requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit an intelligence assessment on the relationship between women and terrorism, including an analysis of... Read more

Washington, DC – Tonight, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), David Cicilline (D-RI-01), Ann Wagner (R-MO-02), and Susan Wild’s (D-PA-07) bipartisan resolution condemning Saudi Arabia’s continued jailing and alleged abuse of women’s rights activists was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution, which has 28 additional co-sponsors, urges the Saudi government to immediately release the prisoners and hold the abusers accountable, and calls on the U.S. government to sanction a... Read more

Washington, DC – Co-Chairs of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Reps. Lois Frankel (FL-21), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), and DWC Vice Chairs Reps. Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Deb Haaland (NM-01), were joined by 47 colleagues today in sending a letter to U.S. Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro expressing their deep concern regarding inequities in pay, publicity, and investment in the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT). The Members are also demanding answers from ... Read more