International Women's Day

March 8, 2017

Wednesday marked International Women's Day, a day in which the world celebrated the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

I am pleased to say that women have made significant inroads in Connecticut. However, there is still progress to be made in regards to equal pay, paid family medical leave and access to health services, to name a few. We have to continue to move forward and fight for the basic rights of all women.

That is why, this year, we introduced the following legislation:

HB 5591: Requires employers to provide equal pay to employees in the same workplace.

SB 585: Requires health insurance coverage for breast pumps and improve protections afforded to women breastfeeding in places of employment.

HB 6668: Improves workplace protections for pregnant women.

SB 6212: Establishes a paid family and medical leave system in Connecticut.

SB 586: To: (1) Expand mandated health benefits for women, children and adolescents; (2) expand mandated contraception benefits; and (3) require the Commissioner of Social Services to amend the Medicaid state plan to provide expanded contraception benefits.

I am proud to be supporting these bills and will continue to update you on their status going forward.

As always, feel free to reach me via email at Robyn.Porter@cga.ct.gov or call me at 860-240-8585 if you have any questions, comments or concerns.