As we celebrate our mothers and women in our life this week, we have a lot to be grateful for and a lot at stake in the upcoming election.
President Barack Obama, the father of two girls, has been a strong advocate for women throughout his life. He has protected and advanced policies that promote fairness, equal opportunity and a level playing field, which ensures my pay for a day’s work is equal to a man’s. President Obama is expanding access to quality, affordable health care, child care and education; the President’s agenda demonstrates his belief that women’s issues are America’s issues.
Thanks to the President’s resilience in passing the health reform law — the Affordable Care Act — women and their families now have more health security. Insurance companies must now cover preventive care services such as cervical cancer screenings, mammograms and immunizations at no additional cost. The days when insurance companies could charge women more simply because they are women are finally coming to an end. And children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage.
President Obama has also fought to increase women’s economic security and build an economy meant to last. The first bill the President signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which ensures that all women who choose to work will receive equal pay for equal work. Because when women make less than men for the same work, it hurts the entire family. Now, with President Obama’s help, my future employers can no longer discriminate against me and pay me less for doing the same work as a man.
President Obama also made college more affordable for working families by doubling Pell Grant scholarships, and demands Congress act and not let student loan interest rates double this week. My student loans are already high enough without having the doubled interest rates. President Obama is fighting for us as students, and he believes that it is an economic imperative for young adults to have a higher education, not a luxury.
Finally, because of Obamacare, we can now stay on our parent’s insurance until the age of 26 and can no longer be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Without President Obama, I would be leaving in June with the stress of not only trying to find a job but also with the stress of not having health insurance.
President Obama has been a strong advocate for women and their families. We cannot afford to go back to the days when women could be discriminated against. We must move forward. That’s why I’m supporting President Obama.
Lauren Burr is a senior studying education.
