Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Denounces Republicans’ Rules Package; Calls Out Harm to Women and Families

CONTACT:    

Lizzie Johnson, (202)-590-6073, lizzie.johnson@mail.house.gov (DWC)

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Friday, January 3, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) released the following statement on Republicans’ proposed rules package for the 119th Congress. 

“It's disappointing, though not surprising, that Republicans’ proposed rules package is full of hateful, fear mongering, and redundant provisions that do nothing to help American women and families. There is nothing to lower grocery prices, help workers, or make housing and health care more affordable. Instead, it criminalizes reproductive health care providers who are saving women in crisis at the end of their pregnancies. It also includes a hateful and misplaced measure to ban transgender women and girls from playing sports. While they say this is to protect women, the reality is there are very few transgender athletes playing in women’s sports, but there are millions of women who are raped, murdered, and sexually assaulted every day—one in four women are victims of sexual assault. Let’s reject their distractions and work to provide women and girls the protections and economic opportunities that would make a difference in their daily lives. 

Sadly, the package also left out a bipartisan measure to allow Members of Congress who’ve just given birth or are new parents to vote remotely so they can take care of their child and continue to represent their community. In contrast to Republicans, DWC will continue to push for change that actually helps women and families.” 

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