Sign Up for Updates
Women's Issues
As a mother and public servant, I've always fought to make life better for Maine's women and children.
Not only am I strongly pro-choice, while I was a state senator I fought for contraceptive equality, to improve access to women's health care, and to make Roe v. Wade a permanent part of Maine law. I've also worked to stop any effort to limit women's access to reproductive services.
From my work as the co-owner of a small inn and restaurant called Nebo Lodge, and as the former owner of a predominantly female-staffed mail-order catalog business, I know how hard it can be to meet a payroll and run a small business. But I also know that the hard work women do is worth every bit as much to the bottom line as the work of male employees. That's why I support measures such as the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and will work for their passage if elected to Congress.
Chellie Pingree on Women's Issues
Pay equity
Reproductive choice
Insurance coverage
Highlights of Chellie's legislative record on women's issues
Pay equity
In 2008, women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. For college graduates, this means $1.2 million is lost over a woman's lifetime. In recent years, the wage gap between men and women has actually increased. Despite graduating college at a higher rate, making up a greater percent of the workforce, and increasingly becoming the family caregiver, women are still not receiving the fair treatment in the workplace that they deserve and that we've fought for. Economically speaking, we should all rise together.
I am proud to be from a state that has the smallest earning gap in the U.S. However, we must fight to end this discrimination and stand up for women in every state. In Congress, I will continue working towards pay equity just like I did in the Maine legislature, by supporting measures such as the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Reproductive choice
A woman's reproductive decisions should be left to her and her doctors.
I have been a long-time advocate for women's reproductive rights. Women should have options and these decisions should be private -- between a woman, her doctor, and her family. In the Maine legislature I never shied away from standing up for women and for what I believe in, regardless of the topic. I will continue to work to reduce teen pregnancy and protect Roe v. Wade. We all need to work toward a world in which every child conceived is wanted and every child born is loved and nurtured. We should be working to make abortion less necessary, which means we need better education, effective and available birth control, and improved contraceptive research.
In Congress, I will fight for increases in Title X funding for low income women, as well as funding for international programs to support family planning. Anti-family planning lawmakers have targeted these programs and have succeeded in cutting the budget for the United Nations Population Fund and other programs.
Insurance coverage
In the Maine Senate, I fought for legislation requiring insurance companies provide coverage for contraception and I was proud when we became one of the first states to require the coverage of birth control. Women across the U.S. are not as lucky as Maine residents and I will continue this fight in Washington, D.C. I will also fight for affordable and accessible health services for women including mental health and substance abuse.
Highlights of Chellie's legislative record on women's issues
Chellie Sponsored a Bill to Ensure Affordable Access to Gynecological Services.
In 1999, Pingree sponsored a bill that required nonprofit hospital and medical service organizations, health insurers, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for gynecological services performed by a nurse practitioner. The final disposition of the bill was "ought not to pass pursuant to Joint Rule 310" on 5/05/99. [Joint Standing Committee Bill Summaries, Banking & Insurance, 07/1999; LD 1323, History and Final Disposition of Legislative Documents, 119th Legislature]
Download Boston Globe article about this effort.
Pingree Co-Sponsored a Bill to Establish an Office of Women's Health.
In 2000, Pingree cosponsored a bill that established the Office of Women's Health in the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Health, with resources and personnel also drawn from the Department of Mental health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. The office would provide leadership and coordination in developing a comprehensive outlook on the overall health status of women. The bill passed and was signed into law by the governor on 5/10/00. [LD 2374, Finally Passed, 5/10/00; History and Final Disposition of Legislative Documents, 119th Legislature]
RSS Feed