White House Council on Women and Girls

Yesterday, the Obama Administration announced that, via executive order, it is setting up a White House Council on Women and Girls. This panel's charge is to address women's issues, and specificaly now, with the current economic crisis, women's role in the American economy.

“The mission of the council will be to provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families,” a White House official said (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19875.html)

I am excited to see that the myriad of issues we face as women are getting attention as they relate to and effect us. There are so many things that I care about that may possibly be included in this council- obviously, reproductive health issues, but also domestic violence, sexual assault, work place discrimination, the affect of environmental degradation on our health, body image issues, ... and the list goes on!

I hope they set up a website for this, like they have for other important issues the President is working on, so that women can participate by sharing their stories and ideas. I know we here at PPAM, and all of our volunteers and supporters, would have a lot of things to share!

Although many women's groups have been advocating for a Cabinet level office specifically for women, I think this non-cabinet council is still a step in the right direction. For the last 8 years we didn't have anything at all!

President Obama's signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, his signing of the SCHIP expansion, his repeal of the Global Gag rule- and now this Council, all in his first 50 days as president, show his commitment to women and young girls' health and well-being.