Press Releases

Hoyer Hosts Forum on an Economic Agenda that Works for Women

CLINTON, MD – Tonight, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) hosted a forum on an “Economic Agenda that Works for Women,” in collaboration with the Fifth District Women’s Network Advisory Committee and other women’s organizations. During the forum, Congressman Hoyer and community leaders discussed issues important to women and families in the community, including equal pay, work/life balance, and childcare.

The forum was led by a panel of community leaders, including Diane Polangin, Vice-Chair of the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation; Lisa Ransom, Director of Public Policy for the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity; Shayla Adams, Executive Director of RemixEducation; Katiana Lambert, President of Prince George’s County Chapter of Mocha Moms; Kim Mozingo, President of the Conwell Group; and Stacie Burch, Assistant Director for TEACH at Anne Arundel Community College.

“I was pleased to host tonight’s forum to discuss issues whose impact are felt every day, not only throughout the Fifth District but across our country,” stated Congressman Hoyer. “Women now constitute 47% of our workforce, and more households than ever before are being supported primarily by women’s incomes. For tens of millions of middle-class families, women’s incomes are crucial to making ends meet, and the success of our economic recovery is one of the most important issues concerning women today. Unfortunately, our national economic priorities haven’t caught up with the march of progress and equality for women in our workforce. On average, women still earn just $0.77 to the dollar a man earns in the same job. While the gap has narrowed in the Fifth District – with women earning $0.90 on the dollar compared to a man – we have much more work to do to ensure pay equality.”

“That’s why I have co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act and continue to push for measures that will close the pay gap,” continued Congressman Hoyer. “It’s also important that Congress follows Maryland’s lead and raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, as well as look at paid leave policies, expansion of early childhood education, and passage of additional jobs legislation included in the Make It In America plan I’m leading to strengthen domestic manufacturing and create well-paying jobs here at home.”

Congressman Hoyer concluded: “I thank today’s panelists for joining us today to discuss these issues important to ensuring that women can succeed in our economy – which will, in turn, help more families ‘make it’ in America – and right here in Maryland.” 

With women playing an expanded role in America’s workforce, Congressman Hoyer strongly supports taking action to ensure they have access to economic opportunity and equality in the workplace.  He continues to focus on an economic agenda that works for women, which includes:

Fair Pay

  • Passing the Paycheck Fairness Act to provide better legal remedies for people who have experienced pay discrimination.
  • Raising the minimum wage.
  • Investing in job training and supporting women entrepreneurs and small businesses, which are part of the Make It In America jobs plan led by Congressman Hoyer.
  • Protecting and restoring employment rights.
  • Advocating for pregnant workers fairness.
  • Providing adequate tools to investigate wage discrimination.

Work and Family Balance

  • Ensuring women have paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave.
  • Expanding family and medical leave.
  • Fighting for paid parental leave for federal employees.

Child Care and Education

  • Investing in the highly-successful Judy Centers and other full-service community schools, which incorporate education and the delivery of health and social services to ensure more students are school-ready and more parents are prepared to support learning.
  • Advancing President Obama’s Preschool for All initiative as well as Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships so more families have access to early childhood education.
  • Promoting affordable and high-quality child care.
  • Adequately funding child care programs.
  • Adequate training and pay for child care workers.
  • Expanding and making permanent the Child Care Tax Credit.