Work Isn't Done Yet
March Is Women's History Month
BY CONGRESSMEMBER JOSEPH CROWLEY

March is Women's History Month, when we honor the historic contributions women have made to our great nation. We remember those who have fought for women's progress and recognize those who continue to fight for greater opportunities for women. Because of the countless women who have worked and remained committed to women's progress, we-as a nation-have made great strides toward equality. But our work is not over yet.

Women want what all Americans want: an equal opportunity to succeed, a safe and prosperous country, and the chance to shape the future of our nation. Still, many women continue to face barriers. More than 3 million women are looking for work, and women who are able to find jobs are still paid only 75 cents to the $1 a man earns. Additionally, in America today, 21 million women and girls do not have health insurance. Yet the Republican agenda in Congress ignores the real challenges that women face.

From slashing funding for health care and community development programs to eliminating education initiatives, the Bush Administration's budget is an assault on the values and programs critical to American women.

The Bush budget calls for deep cuts in Medicaid, slashes housing assistance for the most vulnerable, freezes funding for the educational program Head Start and eliminates Social Security benefits for women and children. In addition, for the 1,251,730 women in the state of New York enrolled in Medicare, the Bush budget proposes large cuts. Specifically, in our state alone, the Bush budget will cut a whopping $1,171,328,406 in Medicare funding for hospitals, nursing homes and home health providers over the next five years. The Bush budget will be devastating for many middle-class American families, but for women, who rely most heavily on these programs, the cuts are unconscionable.

Our women and families deserve better. I am fighting alongside my fellow Democrats in Congress for real solutions that promote equality and opportunity. We must continue to support policies in Congress that put American families first by making health care more affordable, improving wages for women and their families, and expanding opportunities for women to succeed in the classroom and in every type of workplace- from the factory floor to the boardroom.

This month, as we recognize and celebrate the contributions of our great American heroines over the 218 years of our history, we must rededicate ourselves to making the future for all of America's girls and women full of hope and more opportunities.

Congressmember Joseph Crowley (D) represents the 7th Congressional District in Queens and The Bronx.