Throughout the course of our nation’s history, women often had to struggle for equality on all fronts. March is Women’s History Month, and while we remember the heroic efforts of women who came before, we must also be mindful that there remains work to be done.
Thirty-nine years ago, the United States Supreme Court recognized a woman’s right to make her own decisions about starting a family and protecting her body. Some are still fighting, however, to roll back this right.
Instead of focusing on our economic recovery and creating jobs, some members of this Congress have chosen to prioritize legislation that would infringe on women’s access to health care services.
On Thursday, the first day of Women’s History Month, the Senate was forced to vote on an amendment introduced by Republican Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri which would have allowed employers to take away preventive health care coverage from millions of women.
This amendment failed to pass – by a slim margin of 51-48 – and working women’s ability to access vital health services such as mammograms, contraception and prenatal care remains intact.
This month, and every month, we have an opportunity to recognize the wide range of contributions American women have made to our country. As we strive to form a more perfect union, we must remain committed to the cause of equality, indifferent to race, income, sexual orientation, and indeed, sex.