Boswell For Congress

This week marks the 90^th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote and participate in our nation’s electoral process. On August 26, 1920, the 19^th Amendment became U.S. law and our country’s electorate nearly doubled. Over the course of these last 90 years, several other laws have passed to bring about gender equality in nearly every sector of American life, but as your Congressman I understand that there is still work to be done.

As the father of three daughters, I was proud that the first bill that President Obama signed into law from the 111^th Congress was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to end wage discrimination based on gender. This was an important bill to Iowa as women workers average only 78 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make in the state, according to the Iowa Policy Project. It is this type of blatant gender discrimination that I have worked to remedy in other legislation as well.

This year, I was pleased to support and pass comprehensive health insurance reform that prevents insurance companies from charging women more for health care services simply based on gender. For a long time, women have had their gender treated as a “preexisting condition” and have had to pay more for the same level of care as men. This legislation will make health insurance for women more affordable and accessible and prevent gender discrimination in the insurance industry.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have advocated for federal support of domestic violence prevention programs and the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In 2009 alone, I worked with my colleagues to bring back more than $11 million for relocation, child services, counseling and other important programs for victims of domestic violence in Iowa.

As a 20-year military veteran, I have also worked hard in Congress to improve benefits for a growing number of female service members and veterans. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I secured a feasibility study to determine the best way to review if the incidence of breast cancer in female soldiers is linked to combat service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But as I said, our work as a nation to end gender discrimination in every sector of American life is far from over. It is important that we continue to talk about what more can be done to make sure that women and men are on an equal playing field. This week, I encourage you to reflect on the women that have made a difference in your life and to discuss what more can be done to bring about gender equality in the state and nation.