Politics & Government

Nancy Pelosi and Katherine Clark pledge action on women's economic agenda

Posted by Katherine Clark for Congress 

CAMBRIDGE -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Nominee for Congress Katherine Clark called for immediate action on passing a women's economic agenda during Friday’s town hall forum at Cambridge College.

"It was an honor to have Nancy Pelosi, a true trailblazer for women's rights, join me in Cambridge to discuss the urgency of achieving economic security for women," Clark said. “Extremist Republicans don't seem to understand that when women are paid what they are worth, families can put food on the table, pay for college, and save for retirement. In Congress, I'll stand with Leader Pelosi to fight for women and make true progress for our families.”

More than 100 people attended the forum on Friday, November 1, to discuss long overdue reforms to achieve economic security for women, with a panel that also included State Rep. Marjorie Decker, D-Cambridge, Microsoft's Associate General Counsel Annmarie Levins and Jenny Herrera of Cambridge's Transition House. During the event, Katherine focused on her Pledge to Women and Families, in which she has outlined her commitment to securing equal pay, increasing the minimum wage and achieving paid family leave. These measures will make a real difference in the daily lives of millions of American families while increasing the country’s gross domestic product and growing the economy.

“There are leaders like Nancy Pelosi who inspire us, and I’m ready to go down to Washington to join her in this fight," Clark said. "So that every child can have a great education. So that everyone who works a full time job can care for their family. So that every American can have access to healthcare. So that no one will have to choose between taking care of a sick child and keeping their job. So that everyone earns an equal days pay for an equal days work. So that issues that middle class families talk about around their kitchen tables are put back on the table in Washington.”

Democratic Leader Pelosi went on to say, “We need women like Katherine Clark in Washington to help us further the fight against extremists who want to take back all the gains we have won. That’s why I’m here today to support her!”

Katherine has spent her entire career as a state legislator and public interest attorney fighting for common sense solutions that help make life better for middle class families, and she’ll continue that fight in Congress. Katherine pledges to work for excellent early childhood education, equal pay for women, increased minimum wage, earned sick time and family leave, and affordable childcare for all families. 

"The time is now to remove the obstacles to women achieving in the workplace," Clark said. "Progress cannot wait any longer to secure equal access to economic opportunity, which will put money into the pockets of families here in Massachusetts and across the country."

About State Senator Katherine Clark

Katherine Clark is the Democratic Nominee for Congress in the Massachusetts Fifth Congressional District. Katherine was sworn in for her second term as a Massachusetts state senator representing Malden, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester on January 2, 2013. She was first elected in March 2008 to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Senator Clark serves as the Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. She also serves on the Joint Committees on Public Health and Public Safety and Homeland Security. Senator Clark is a member of the Advisory Council for the Department of Early Education and Care. In 2011, Senator Clark was appointed to the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Advisory Board at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Katherine and her husband Rodney are raising their three school-age boys in Melrose.

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