President Obama’s first 100 days bring real change for women

Original source:

President Barack Obama’s first 100 days have brought real change for women.

Obama swiftly signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, repealed the Global Gag Rule, restored international family planning aid and acted to rescind Bush’s harmful health care refusal rule.

He also signed the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program with important provisions for immigrant children, and created the White House Council on Women on Girls.

The administration has been responsive to advocates’ concerns, including provisions in the economic recovery plan that will put women as well as men back to work.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis are particularly excellent advocates for women, and there are many women in important administration posts, though far from gender parity.

In just 100 days President Obama has begun reversing the extensive damage done to women’s rights these last eight years, giving us an idea of what is possible with enlightened leadership. I look forward to many more victories for women and girls in the coming days and years.

Kim Gandy is the president of NOW, National Organization For Women.