March is Women’s History Month, a time celebrate the trailblazers who made history, to remember the work women have done to build our country and renew our commitment to equality.
This week, April and I were honored to host an event for Emerge Maryland at our home. Joining us were Senator Ben Cardin, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Congressman John Sarbanes, Congresswoman Donna Edwards and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh.
From the moment Emerge launched, April and I saw it as a tremendously important organization. We should encourage more women to run for office, which would mean massively better public policy.
Emerge is training, motivating and empowering women to run for office across our state and we’re already seeing it make a difference. At our Emerge Maryland celebration, new leaders like Maryland State Delegate Brooke Lierman and Jessica Fitzwater of the Frederick County Council shared their stories about how the face of politics is changing. It was extremely exciting to see the next generation of Maryland leaders discuss their goals and priorities. A thank you is also in order to Martha McKenna and Diane Fink for all the work that you’ve done to build the organization.
In Congress, I’ve been proud to cosponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act as well as legislation that would make it illegal to discriminate against pregnant workers. On the House floor, I stood with Maryland women in making sure that we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, which strengthens our federal response to the tragedy of domestic violence and I’ve opposed efforts to restrict women’s health care. I also firmly believe that a core component of our foreign policy should be improving the treatment of women abroad, because horrific abuses of women and girls remain disturbingly common.
I’m so proud to do my part to help Emerge Maryland, as the father of four daughters and someone who cares deeply about equality, it is wonderful to see progress being made.