Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) released the following statement calling out Republicans’ anti-women agenda, demonstrated by the bills and nominee they raised this week:  

“Republicans have wasted no time putting their anti-women agenda on full display. What we’re seeing this week isn’t just individual bills or nominees—it’s a reflection of Republicans’ views about what women should be, do, and look like: 

• Yesterday's House Republicans’ sports bill should have been called the Child Predator Empowerment Act. Sports should be safe, accessible, and fair for everyone, including transgender women and girls. Republicans’ bill would enable invasive surveillance and physical examinations of all women and girls—exposing them to abuse and harassment. It threatens women who are tall, strong, excel in their sport, or have short hair. Indeed, a teenage woman athlete in Utah was already investigated because she ‘didn’t look feminine enough.’ 
• Tomorrow, the House will vote on a bill that threatens to deport domestic violence survivors if they have to fight for their life. An abuser would have extraordinary power over his victim who could lose her visa or right to be in this country. Sadly, it does nothing to protect the more than 463,000 women and teenagers who are abused and raped each year. Indeed, the bill’s sponsor and 171 other Republicans voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which demonstrates they don’t really care about protecting us from harm. 
• Senators also heard testimony from Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense who has been credibly accused of sexual assault. He doesn’t believe women belong in combat roles, claiming they lack the qualifications to serve. As Senator Duckworth said, the person without the qualifications is Mr. Hegseth. 

These actions are a betrayal of voters. None of these actions lower costs or make the lives of America’s women or families better. In fact, they seek to put women and girls in danger. Meanwhile, Democrats will continue to call out Republicans’ betrayal of women and continue to fight to lower costs and protect programs like Social Security and health care.”

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