Pelosi Remarks at Democratic Steering & Policy Committee Hearing: ‘When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: Moving Forward on the Five-Year Anniversary of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act’
Leader Pelosi's Opening Remarks
"Good morning everyone. I know you're out there, I see you out there. Thank you all very much for being here. We consider this a very special morning. It is a morning that we have a special guest, Ms. Lilly Ledbetter, our inspiration and our champion. Dr. Heidi Hartman, who is an expert – we look forward to hearing from her. And Ms. Laura Mui, who was at our ‘When Women Succeed, America Succeeds' event in San Francisco a week and a half ago. They will be more fully introduced by Congresswoman DeLauro and Congressman Andrews when they come.
"I say that it's a special day because last night we heard the President of the United States speak so eloquently about the importance of women in the workplace. When women succeed, America succeeds. It was a triumphant moment for our message on this, and, more important than that, for our crusade that we are on: to have a work and home balance in what we do.
"Because so much will be said about our witnesses and their testimony – which is what we came to hear – and because our two [Steering & Policy] co-chairs are still coming over from the floor, I'm going to immediately turn over the floor to the Chair of the Democratic Women's Working Group. And Donna Edwards is chairing that, and she works closely with Congresswoman Doris Matsui. I mention them because they have been very much a part of the ‘When Women Succeed, America Succeeds' crusade that we have had across the country. All of it is inspired by our godmother on these issues, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and she will be here shortly to preside over this meeting. But fresh from being with the President in Prince George's County in Maryland, and giving us a report on that, is Congresswoman Donna Edwards. Thank you, Donna.
Leader Pelosi's Closing Remarks
"I want to join you in thanking our distinguished witnesses, Laura Mui, Lilly Ledbetter, and Dr. Heidi Hartman, for their excellent testimony – not only the facts and figures that they bring, but the value of their opinions on this subject.
"And the word ‘value': they don't value all women in the workplace as much as they should, but they don't really value all workers. If they did, they would raise the minimum wage – 60 percent are women who make the minimum wage. So that's why we say: ‘When women succeed, America succeeds.' Because in lifting the minimum wage, we lift not only the wages of all workers, but as Dr. Hartman said: ‘We lift the floor.' We lift the floor so that other wages will rise.
"I want to thank Chairwoman DeLauro and Chairman Andrews for their leadership on the Steering and Policy Committee – not only on this issue today, which I salute Donna Edwards and Doris Matsui on as well, but as something with a one-ness, an integrity: about job creation, when we brought in people to talk about investing in infrastructure in America, to create good paying jobs here in America right now; about when the economy isn't working, as we have the challenge now with the unemployment insurance and the stories that people told us about that are just stunning. Whether it's raising the minimum wage or paycheck fairness, or Lilly Ledbetter's issues regarding the court case and the rest, or all that Dr. Hartman told us – it all has a one-ness to it. And it's about an economy that works for everyone, and that's what the President talked about last night.
"It was interesting to me. We had the President of Colombia – the country, not the university – in to see us recently, and he said that their economy was going to grow this way and that way, and I said: ‘What is your secret? Share it with us.' He said: ‘We're going to grow our economy in a very special way, because we're going to involve many more women in the growth of our economy in our country.'
"And just last week – that was a few weeks ago – but just last week, the Japanese said that their future depended on the role that women will play in their economy. This isn't just about correcting injustices – it would be justified if it were only about that – but it is about a larger issue: as Laura pointed out, whether it's a psychological impact on our children, or the direct impact on our innovation as a country.
"This is so very important. You are central to it. This Committee has done so much, too. Because our colleagues will not let us have a bipartisan – won't let us focus in the proper way on these issues – we come to the Steering and Policy Committee. So I want to salute Congresswoman DeLauro and Congressman Andrews for what they're doing, and Congresswoman Edwards for her leadership role on our women's initiative.
"But all of us are incredibly grateful. And Members who couldn't be here send you their regards and we will send them back your messages. So thank you Laura – see you back home. Lilly Ledbetter: we don't know where in the world we're going to see you – everywhere. And Heidi, Dr. Hartman, thank you so much for your leadership. Thank you all very much. The meeting is adjourned."
[Applause]