Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues

The Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues is a bipartisan caucus of the United States House of Representatives.[1][2] It was founded by fifteen Congresswomen on April 19, 1977, and was originally known as the Congresswomen’s Caucus.[3] Its founding co-chairs were Reps. Elizabeth Holtzman, a New York Democrat, and Margaret Heckler, a Massachusetts Republican.[4] In 1981 men were invited to join and the name of the organization was therefore changed to the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues.[5] However, in January 1995, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to eliminate funding for offices and staff of caucus organizations on Capitol Hill; therefore, the Congresswomen reorganized themselves into a Members’ organization.[6] It is still called the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, but men no longer belong to it.[7] Today its membership consists of all women in the U.S. House of Representatives.[8]

In 1990, the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues inspired a House resolution to honor long-time Caucus Secretary Lindy Boggs by naming the room the caucus met in the Corrine “Lindy” Boggs Congressional Women’s Reading Room, which it is known as today.[9][10] It had previously been known as the Congresswomen’s Reading Room.[11]

The list of legislative accomplishments of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues includes:[12]

1994 House of Representatives midterm election

The 1994 House of Representatives midterm election concluded forty years of Democratic power.[13] This resulted in a Republican majority determined to implement a conservative agenda.[14] In order to enact the Contract with America, Newt Gingrich and GOP leaders restructured the House and party rules, centralizing power in their hands and stripping Democrats of any resources that could be used to delay the majority's initiatives.[15] Informal House groups were a vulnerable target during the 104th Congress.[16] The CCWI was then forced to go on the defensive to maintain legislation, instead of continuing to advocate for policies that would advance the rights of women.[17]

List of Chairs and Ranking Members

References

  1. ↑ "The Women's Caucus - Women's Policy, Inc.". Women's Policy, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Congresswoman Marcia Fudge : Congressional Caucuses". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Caucus History - Women's Policy, Inc.". Women's Policy, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Women's Caucus Puts Health at Top of Its '09 List - Womens eNews". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Caucus History - Women's Policy, Inc.". Women's Policy, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Caucus History - Women's Policy, Inc.". Women's Policy, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Caucus History - Women's Policy, Inc.". Women's Policy, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Women's Caucus Puts Health at Top of Its '09 List - Womens eNews". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Caucus History - Women's Policy, Inc.". Women's Policy, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Washington Bids Farewell to Lindy Boggs". Roll Call. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Caucus History - Women's Policy, Inc.". Women's Policy, Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY)". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  13. ↑ Gertzog, Irwin N. (2004-01-01). Women and Power on Capitol Hill: Reconstructing the Congressional Women's Caucus. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 9781588262837.
  14. ↑ Gertzog, Irwin N. (2004-01-01). Women and Power on Capitol Hill: Reconstructing the Congressional Women's Caucus. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 9781588262837.
  15. ↑ Gertzog, Irwin N. (2004-01-01). Women and Power on Capitol Hill: Reconstructing the Congressional Women's Caucus. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 9781588262837.
  16. ↑ Gertzog, Irwin N. (2004-01-01). Women and Power on Capitol Hill: Reconstructing the Congressional Women's Caucus. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 9781588262837.
  17. ↑ Gertzog, Irwin N. (2004-01-01). Women and Power on Capitol Hill: Reconstructing the Congressional Women's Caucus. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 9781588262837.
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