After decades of pioneering work by women in New Jersey and around the country, outright sexism has become uncommon in American workplaces. But more subtle, and equally pernicious, obstacles to women’s economic success remain. Women earn on average 77 cents for every dollar a man makes for the exact same work, a pay gap that starts the first year out of college and continues for the rest of a woman’s life. Two-thirds of all minimum-wage workers are women. Nearly half of full-time employees have no protections for paid family and medical leave.These issues affect women most acutely, but they are not just “women’s issues.” After all, our economy cannot succeed if half of the population is left behind.
So how can New Jersey and our country do better? Last week I convened a forum at the State House in Trenton to consider that question. I was joined by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, a longtime champion for women’s economic rights; Randi Weingarten, the outspoken president of the American Federation of Teachers; Analilia Mejia of the NJ Working Families Alliance; Hetty Rosenstein of the Communications Workers of America; Karen White of the Rutgers Center for Women and Work; Laurel Brennan, the Secretary-Treasurer of the NJ AFL-CIO; Ann Vardeman of New Jersey Citizen Action; and other New Jersey men and women with firsthand stories of a working world that still seems out of step with their realities.
New Jersey has made great strides on these issues, but as we spoke, it became clear that any further progress will start with three steps. First, America must guarantee sick leave to all workers. Second, we must ensure that employees can take time away from work to care for their families. And finally, we should increase the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. Not only will these changes lift millions of women (and men) out of poverty, but they will strengthen the fabric of our economy by ensuring that workers can take care of themselves and their families.
We can do better – for women, for their families, and for our economy.
95,000
In just two weeks, New Jersey will lose access to $7.6 million in federal funding for health care outreach. According to a new report from New Jersey Policy Perspectives, the money could help 95,000 New Jerseyans gain health insurance. But the Christie Administration has, for ideological reasons, refused to claim the funds, despite my repeated efforts to convince the governor to act.
The money is there for the asking. Before the clock ticks further, New Jersey should use these funds available to us to extend health care to as many of our citizens as possible.
Working for You
Recently, a West Windsor woman contacted my office because her name had been misprinted on her passport. She had twice attempted to get the misspelling corrected, but each time she received a new passport with the same misprint – and she needed a valid passport for a fast-approaching international trip. On her behalf, I contacted the National Passport Center, which quickly reprinted the document with the correct spelling of her last name.
Have you encountered a similar problem with a passport center, the VA, Social Security, Medicare, or any other federal agency? If so, please call me at 1-87-RUSH-HOLT or by sending an e-mail. I’ll do all I can to address your problem.
Sincerely,
Rush Holt
Member of Congress
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