WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge joins millions of Americans in marking the annual celebration of March as Women’s History Month – a commemoration that has occurred in America since 1987.

“Women’s History Month provides us an opportunity to bring awareness to the enormous progress that American women have made throughout our history and celebrate the women of our past who struggled, sacrificed and prevailed on behalf of the advancement of women,” said Congresswoman Fudge. “In the last several years, there have also been new gains for women.  For example, under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies will be prohibited from charging women up to three times more than men for comparable health insurance coverage.”

“We should also use Women’s History Month as a time to recommit ourselves to advancing the needs of America’s women. Women continue to face special economic challenges. More than 64 percent of minimum-wage workers are women and on average, women still make only 77 cents for every dollar made by men.”

“The across the board cuts to the federal  budget that went in to effect on March 1 pose a new challenge to women and their families.  Here are a few examples of the impact these cuts will have on women and their families:

·        SBA loans to women-owned small businesses will be reduced by $250 million and women entrepreneurs will also lose an estimated $1.3 billion in government contracts, jeopardizing the jobs of up to  
          15,000 of their employees

·        Up to 112,000 victims of domestic violence could lose access to domestic violence shelters and other services due to a $29 million cut in domestic violence programs.

·        About 600,000 women and children will be dropped from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which provides vital nutrition assistance and prenatal care.

·        The parents of 30,000 children will lose essential help with their child care expenses, making it more difficult for them to hold a job.

·        25,000 low-income women who rely on federal funding for their breast and cervical cancer screenings are at risk of losing their coverage.

·        70,000 children will lose access to Head Start.

·        The education of tens of thousands of children will be put in jeopardy, with 2,700 schools losing Title I funding, putting at risk the jobs of 10,000 teachers.

“I am honored to be one of the record numbers of women currently serving in Congress – with 20 women now serving in the Senate and 81 women in the House. On behalf of my constituents, I will continue to support a balanced and responsible plan to replace the automatic cuts that will hurt women and families. I will also continue to focus on issues that advance the needs of women.”

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