March 12, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1777 we can change hearts and minds as ical School on the condition that wage inequality. Families with a fe- well. women be admitted. And jazz music male head of household have the high- f would not be complete without the un- est poverty rate and comprise the ma- forgettable voice of jazz singer Billie jority of poor families. CHILDREN AND HEALTHCARE Holiday who also hailed from Balti- Women continue to be under-rep- WEEK more City. Their accomplishments and resented in high-paying professions and Mr. HOLLINGS. Madam President, talent provide inspiration not only to lag significantly behind men in enroll- each day many of our Nation’s children Marylanders, but to people all over the ment in science programs. A recent face illnesses that require a doctor’s of- globe. General Accounting Office study found fice or hospital visit. This can be a My good friend and colleague from that, after controlling for education, frightening experience, and under- Maryland, Senator BARBARA MIKULSKI, age and race, women managers still scores the need to provide quality pedi- is a tremendous example of the com- earned less than full-time male man- atric health services, while easing the mitment and dedication women give to agers. Increasing the number of senior stress children and their families feel. public service. From her background as level women in all fields begins with The week of March 18th in Greenville, a social worker to her election to the encouraging girls’ interest and aware- SC, The Greenville Hospital System U.S. Senate, Senator MIKULSKI, who ness in school illustrating that their Children’s Hospital is celebrating Chil- has served longer than any other options are limitless. dren and Healthcare Week with a num- woman currently in the Senate has al- As our population ages, we must also ber of valuable activities for health ways worked to ensure all people are address the special challenges of older care professionals, parents, and com- treated fairly. She appropriately women. Women live an average of 6 munity partners. played a key role in establishing this years longer than men. Consequently, The activities are aimed at increas- month when in 1981, she cosponsored a their reduced pay is even more detri- ing public, parental, and professional resolution establishing National Wom- mental given their increased life ex- knowledge of the improvements that en’s History Week, a predecessor to pectancy as they are forced to live on can be made in pediatric health care. Women’s History Month. Today, I wish less money for a longer period of time. In particular, it stresses new ways to to honor her dedication and service to In addition, more women over age 65 tend to live alone at a time when ill- meet the emotional and developmental the people of Maryland and this Na- ness and accidents due to decreased needs of children in health care set- tion. tings. Among the scheduled events are: While we recognize famous women, it mobility are more likely. For these women, it is imperative that we guar- continuing education classes for med- is important that we acknowledge the antee that Social Security and Medi- ical residents and support staff, an contributions of others who daily care remain solvent for future genera- awards ceremony to honor local indi- touch our lives: Our favorite teacher who gives us the confidence and knowl- tions. viduals who have dedicated their lives I believe we should use this month as edge to know that we were capable of to pediatric care, a special tribute an opportunity to reflect not only on success; the single mother or grand- service to honor children, and a family the achievements and challenges of event for employees. Lack of quality mother who toiled at a low-paying job American women, but to recognize health care should never be an impedi- for years to guarantee that the next those of women internationally. We ment to the long-term success of our generation in her family received bet- know that a variety of ills hinder the nation’s children, and I commend ter education and career opportunities; potential of women in many parts of Greenville’s dedication to Children and and the professional women who volun- the world, labor practices that oppress Healthcare Week. teer the little spare time they have to women and girls, the rapid spread of f read to children or speak to student HIV and AIDS, and limited or non-ex- groups, inspiring young people to aim istence suffrage rights. We must broad- RECOGNITION OF WOMEN’S for goals beyond what they may have HISTORY MONTH en access to education, the political otherwise imagined. process, and reproductive health glob- Mr. SARBANES. Madam President, I Women’s History Month is a fitting ally so that girls and women every- rise today in recognition of Women’s time to honor the women of the Armed where can maximize their options. To History Month. This time has been ap- Services who risk their lives in our have a credible voice in the inter- propriately designated to reflect upon fight against terrorism. From the national arena, the United States must the important contributions and heroic American Revolution and the Civil War lead by example, showing that Amer- sacrifices that women have made to through modern day armed conflict, ican women enjoy these rights fully. our Nation and to consider the chal- American women have sacrificed next During my service in Congress, I lenges they continue to face. Through- to their husbands, sons, brothers and have strongly supported efforts to ad- out our history, women have been at fathers to preserve the freedom upon dress women’s issues and eradicate the forefront of every important move- which this Nation was founded. Cur- gender discrimination and inequality. I ment for a better and more just soci- rently, more than 6,000 women in the have co-sponsored the Paycheck Fair- ety, and they have been the foundation Armed Services are courageously fight- ness Act, which would provide more ef- of our families and communities. ing in our war against terrorism and fective remedies to victims of wage dis- In Maryland, we are proud to honor almost 15 percent of the 1.4 million sol- crimination on the basis of sex. I have those women who have given so much diers volunteering in our military are also supported the Equity in Prescrip- to improve our lives. Their achieve- women. These modern day heroines, tion Insurance and Contraceptive Cov- ments illustrate their courage and te- giving of their time, knowledge, and erage Act, which would prohibit health nacity in conquering overwhelming ob- lives should not be taken for granted. insurance plans from excluding or re- stacles. They include Margaret Brent, Women have made great strides in stricting benefits for prescription con- who became America’s first woman overcoming historic adversity and bias traception if the plan covers other pre- lawyer and landholder, and Harriet but they still face many obstacles. Un- scription drugs. In order to build a na- Tubman, who risked her own life to equal pay, poverty, inadequate access tional repository of the contributions lead hundreds of slaves to freedom to healthcare and violent crime are of women to our Nation’s history, I co- through the Underground Railroad. Dr. among the challenges that continue to sponsored legislation to establish a Na- Helen Taussig, another great Mary- disproportionately affect women. tional Museum of Women’s History Ad- lander, developed the first successful Working women earn 74 cents to every visory Committee. In addition, I re- medical procedure to save ‘‘blue ba- dollar earned by men. What is more main a consistent supporter of an equal bies’’ by repairing heart birth defects. troubling is that the more education a rights amendment to the Constitution. Her efforts laid the groundwork for woman has, the wider the wage gap. I am proud of these efforts and I will modern heart surgery. We are all in- According to a recent Census Bureau continue my commitment to bring debted to Mary Elizabeth Garrett and report, the average American woman fuller equality to all women. Martha Carey Thomas who donated loses approximately $523,000 in wages While obstacles remain, women have money to create Johns Hopkins Med- and benefits over a lifetime because of achieved impressive progress. This

VerDate Mar 15 2010 20:30 Jan 09, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2002SENATE\S12MR2.REC S12MR2 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S1778 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 12, 2002 good news includes a decline in the been more debated, with people of good pion of democracy and human rights, poverty rate for single women and an intentions on both sides of the issue. to take a stand for the rights of women increase in those holding advanced de- Consequently, I was dismayed that the and girls and ratify the convention. grees. Recent figures show women re- Bush Administration considered with- Notably absent from the list of 161 ceived approximately 45 percent of law holding the $34 million U.S. contribu- countries who have ratified the conven- and 42 percent of medical degrees tion to the United Nations Population tion, the United States joins a rather awarded in this country. This is a dra- Fund, UNFPA, an amount allocated to dubious club of non-ratifiers: Iran, matic improvement from a few decades it by law and, after months of negotia- North Korea, and Sudan. Surely this is ago and should continue as more and tions, and with bipartisan support. I not the company we want to keep. more women enter professional pro- wrote to President Bush urging him Surely we want to be known as a leader grams. not to withhold the funds as such a de- when it comes to defending the human In my home State of Maryland, as in cision would be a serious mistake and a rights of women and girl who are un- the Nation, women are a guiding force blow to U.S. leadership in combating able to defend themselves. and a major presence in our national overpopulation. Do we want to be the lone democracy business sector. From 1987 to 1999, the You simply cannot deny the impor- not to ratify? Do we want to watch number of women-owned firms in the tance of family planning assistance, es- China, the People’s Republic of Laos, United States grew by 103 percent. pecially for the very poor. There are and Iraq, countries we regularly cen- Women were responsible for 80 percent now more than 6 billion people on this sure for human rights abuses and who of the total enrollment growth at Earth. The United Nations estimates have either signed or agreed in prin- Maryland colleges and universities this figure could be 12 billion by the ciple, pass us by? throughout the last two decades. year 2050. Almost all of this growth There is no reasonable justification Indeed women continue to make will occur in the places least able to for our failure to act. Is the convention great progress. As we highlight their bear up under the pressures of massive a technically demanding agreement re- accomplishments in history this population increases. The brunt will be quiring years of study and investiga- month, I believe it is also important to in developing countries lacking the re- tion? Does it ask the United States to educate present and future generations sources needed to provide basic health go far beyond our own goals and ideals? about gender discrimination so that we or education services. Nothing could be further from the do not repeat past mistakes. America Let us strive to ensure that women truth. must remain vigilant in eradicating have access to the educational and Here is what the convention says: It these injustices. I am confident that medical resources they need to control requires States to take all appropriate the women of America will lead this their reproductive destinies and their steps to eliminate discrimination journey and continue to exemplify and health so that they will be able to bet- against women in political and public advocate for those values and ideals ter their own lives and the lives of life, law, education, employment, which are at the heart of a decent, car- their families health care, commercial transactions, ing and fair society. Everyone should recognize that and domestic relations. Nothing more, f international family planning pro- nothing less. Simplicity is the hall- grams reduce poverty, improve health, mark of this agreement. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY and raise living standards around the Every day that goes by without rati- Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, world; they enhance the ability of cou- fication, we further risk losing our history has shown us that a Nation ples and individuals to determine the moral right to lead in the human dedicated to equal rights for women number and spacing of their children. rights revolution. By ratifying the con- and girls is a more prosperous Nation, We must counter the attacks made vention, we will demonstrate our com- a healthier Nation, a more educated by the anti-choice wing of the Repub- mitment to promoting equality and to Nation, a more just Nation, a more lican party in recent years and make it protecting women’s rights throughout peaceful Nation, and a more demo- perfectly clear that no U.S. inter- the world. By ratifying the convention, cratic Nation. Today I rise once again national family planning funds are we will send a strong message to the to add my voice and stand in solidarity spent on international abortion. international community that the U.S. with women and girls around the world It is worth noting that the Depart- understands the problems posed by dis- in their struggle for basic human ment of State recognized the vital role crimination against women, and we rights. I rise to commemorate March 8, of the UNFPA in family planning as- will not abide by it. By ratifying the 2002, International Women’s Day. sistance and provided $600,000 to the convention, we reestablish our creden- Until the entire world recognizes the Fund for sanitary supplies, clean un- tials as a leader on human rights and simple fact expressed by my friend and dergarments, and emergency infant de- women’s rights. colleague, Senator CLINTON, that livery kits for Afghan refugees in Iran, As we commemorate International ‘‘women’s rights are human rights’’ we Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. This is Women’s Day, I call on my colleagues must continue to raise awareness just one of many examples of UNFPA’s in the Senate to move forward and rat- about the plight of women and girls commitment to bettering the lives of ify the convention on discrimination around the world and in our own coun- women and children around the world. against women. try. Indeed, while I have been encour- Since the debate is unlikely to end, Eliminating the use of rape as an in- aged by the gains made since the we must work harder to ensure that strument of war must be a high pri- United Nations first designated March the United States reclaims its leader- ority for the United States and the 8 as International Women’s Day in 1975, ship role on international family plan- international community. It is an issue there is still a great deal of work ahead ning and reproductive issues. On Inter- that continues to cause me great con- of us and I would like to take this time national Women’s Day, I urge my col- cern. to discuss several critical issues that I leagues to support full funding for the We have seen in recent years how believe are vital to the lives of women UNFPA and other international family rape has moved from being an isolated and girls and require U.S. leadership: planning programs. by-product of war to a tool used to ad- international family planning assist- Another year has gone by and I am vance war aims. In Bosnia, Rwanda, ance, the Convention on the Elimi- saddened and disappointed to note that and East Timor soldiers and militia- nation of All Forms of Discrimination the Senate still has not acted on the men used rape on a organized, system- Against Women, CEDAW, rape as an in- Convention to Eliminate All Forms of atic, and sustained basis to further strument of war, and the plight of Discrimination Against Women. It has their goal of ethnic cleansing. In some women in Afghanistan. been more than twenty years since the cases, women were kidnaped, interned Each of us, I believe, understands United States actively participated in in camps and houses, forced to do very well the issue of United States as- drafting the Convention and President labor, and subjected frequent rape and sistance to international family plan- Carter signed it on July 17, 1980. Yet, sexual assault. ning organizations. There have been we are still waiting for the United Something had to be done and so I few issues in recent years that have States, the lone superpower and cham- was pleased that the United Nations, in

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