Written by: Mattie Kahn, Elle Magazine The statistics aren't good. According to recent estimates, women make up just under 20 percent of Congress and less than 25 percent of all state legislatures. Only six of our nation's governors are women. But we are 51 percent of the population. And the research shows that when women participate in government, we make it run better, more collaboratively. Historically, women have needed to be convinced to enter politics. But within weeks of the 2016 presiden... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN) have been elected by the women of the House as Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues for the 115th Congress. Congresswomen Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) will serve as Co-Vice Chairs. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on finding common ground and advocating issues important to the advancement of women and girls,” Frankel said. “The Congressional Women’s Caucus i... Read more

Child care is more expensive than public college tuition in most U.S. states making it unaffordable for the majority of middle-class families, let alone those living in poverty. Now, some lawmakers are trying to change that. Congressional Democrats announced a new bill on Thursday that aims to increase access to child care for lower-income families and improve the notoriously inconsistent quality of the child care those subsidies buy. The Child Care Access to Resources for Early-learning (CARE)... Read more

Equal Pay Day, recognized this year on April 14, marks the day when women’s earnings from January 2014 finally equaled what men earned in calendar year 2014 alone. To highlight this critical disparity, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22), Vice Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, introduced the Equal Pay Day Resolution and called on Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to help close the wage gap. Click here to watch Rep. Frankel’s remarks on the House floor calling for payc... Read more

Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) has been elected Vice Chair of the Congressional Women’s Caucus for the 114th Congress. She will be sworn in today with other newly elected leadership of the Caucus. “For more than 30 years, the Women’s Caucus has championed women’s issues in our country and around the globe – putting aside partisanship and embracing collaboration,” said Congresswoman Frankel. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve the lives of women... Read more

The House passed the bipartisan Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act yesterday to expand scholarship opportunities for students in Pakistan. The legislation included a provision sponsored by Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) encouraging scholarship recipients to commit to improving their local communities. “By educating young women, we advance democracy in countries threatened by extremism,” Frankel said. The Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act authorizes continued funding over the next three years fo... Read more

Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) today applauded the bipartisan work of Congress to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG), which will improve child care quality and help parents find and sustain employment. On Monday night, the Senate agreed to the House-passed version of the legislation and it will now be sent to President Obama for his signature. “Continuing this program ensures that parents across the country can go to work with peace of mind that their children... Read more

Heading into Florida's primary on Tuesday, Congresswoman Lois Frankel will hold a roundtable on Monday to honor Women’s Equality Day, which marks the passage of women's right to vote. The discussion will highlight the Women’s Economic Agenda and the need for women to vote to make it a reality. “When women get paid fair, decent wages and parents can balance work and family life, America's economy will grow and more children will thrive. In order for this to happen, women have to elect officials t... Read more

Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after Senate Republicans successfully filibustered an attempt to raise the federal minimum wage. The Republican Majority in the House has also opposed raising the minimum wage. Representative Frankel is a co-sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013. "A hard day’s work should mean a decent day’s pay. Increasing the minimum wage would help families put food on the table while enabling our small businesses to flourish. We must ... Read more

Congresswoman Lois Frankel joined key women Congressional leaders in a meeting with President Obama to discuss the Women’s Economic Agenda: When Women Succeeds, America Succeeds and the White House’s upcoming Summit on Working Families. They discussed a number of key issues that would benefit women and their families, including an increase in the federal minimum wage, equal pay, paid family and sick leave, and increasing nontraditional and STEM jobs for women. “Mothers should not have to choose ... Read more