Nancy Pelosi: “in March, we celebrated Women's History Month. We remembered those who have contributed to our progress, we recognized…”

“in March, we celebrated Women's History Month. We remembered those who have contributed to our progress, we recognized those who are changing our communities today, and we rededicated ourselves to improving the lives of women. Women want what men want: a fair opportunity to succeed, a safe and prosperous America, good paying jobs, better access to health care, and the best possible education for our children. Women want a secure retirement, the freedom to make the most of our lives and to make our own choices, and the chance to shape the future of our Nation. Yet in terms of policies to assist women, we are lagging behind. Half of those currently living in poverty are single mothers. More than 3.8 million women are looking for work. Women are still paid only 80 cents to a man's dollar. And the Republican controlled Congress and the Bush administration continue to wage an assault on our reproductive rights, believing they can make better choices than women and their doctors. To open doors of opportunity for women, I am proud to support policies in Congress that promote equality such as the FAIRNESS Act, which protects workers from discrimination on the basis of race, age, disability, or gender. I have long been a strong supporter of legislation to demand equal pay for equal work. My colleagues and I support legislation to increase the minimum wage to help single mothers and working poor women provide adequately for themselves and their families.”