Legal Momentum to Hold Congressional Briefing on Women's Economic Security

Speakers to Address "Economic Recovery, Employment, and Women: Impact and Opportunity"

NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON, DC (March 5, 2009) -

March 6: This briefing was covered by C-Span and is archived at:  http://cspan.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-16138

Legal Momentum, the nation's oldest legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the rights of women and girls, will hold a congressional briefing on Friday, March 6 on economic security for women in the economic recovery. Women and their children comprise 75 percent of the nation’s poor, and the economic downturn puts this already vulnerable group at even greater risk. Panelists will discuss how increasing women’s economic security in this precarious time is critical to our nation’s economic recovery. 

The panel will outline policy options designed to enhance women’s economic security, including:

  • Women’s participation in non-traditional fields such as construction, engineering, and energy;

  • The Paycheck Fairness Act, which will stiffen penalties against employers who discriminate against workers on the basis of gender; and,

  • Strengthening the social safety net to provide low income women and families a means of support and job training.

WHAT: Congressional Briefing “Economic Recovery, Employment, and Women: Impact and Opportunity”

WHEN: Friday, March 6 at 9:00 am-10:30 am

WHERE: B-354 Rayburn House Office Building
              Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street,
              Washington, DC

Moderator: Irasema Garza, President of Legal Momentum

Speakers:

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., The Paycheck Fairness Act and Women’s Economic Security

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Col., Expanding Non-traditional Job Opportunities for Women

Dr. Avis Jones De Weever, Director of the National Council of Negro Women’s Research, Public Policy, and Information Center;
Strengthening Social Safety Net for Low-Income Families

Dr. William Spriggs, Professor and Chair of Howard University Economics Department, How Women’s Economic Security is Critical to National Economic Recovery

 About Legal Momentum:
Founded in 1970 as NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, Legal Momentum is the nation’s oldest legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the rights of women and girls. www.legalmomentum.org

Contact: Erin Smith, esmith@legalmomentum.org, 212.413.7516 (office), 512.203.6206 (mobile)

lm28-2009

###