Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 166 (August 27, 2015)
Page Range
52169-52172
FR Document
2015-21449
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 52169-52172]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21449]
[[Page 52169]]
Vol. 80
Thursday,
No. 166
August 27, 2015
Part III
The President
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Proclamation 9308--Women's Equality Day, 2015
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 166 / Thursday, August 27, 2015 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 52171]]
Proclamation 9308 of August 24, 2015
Women's Equality Day, 2015
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On August 26, 1920, after years of agitating to break
down the barriers that stood between them and the
ballot box, American women won the right to vote. On
the front lines of pickets and protests, champions from
every corner of our country banded together to expand
this fundamental freedom to women and forge a path
toward fairer representation and greater opportunity.
As we celebrate 95 years since the certification of the
19th Amendment, let us demonstrate our commitment to
the belief that we are all entitled to equal treatment
by supporting policies that help women succeed and
thrive.
Since this historic achievement, our country has made
great progress in building a freer and fairer society,
and we continue striving to fully realize justice and
equality for all. There is still more to do to secure
the promise of our Nation for everyone, including
ensuring that women have equal opportunities to
participate in the classroom, the economy, the
workplace, and our democracy. From day one, my
Administration has carried forward the torch of gender
equality, working tirelessly to ensure that all of
America's daughters have the same rights as her sons.
When women succeed, America succeeds. That is why I am
committed to fighting for equal pay for equal work, and
why the first bill I signed into law as President was
the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which extended the
time period for employees to file complaints of
compensation discrimination. I continue to support
passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act because there is
no reason why an earnings gap between men and women
should persist in the 21st century. Women account for
more than half of all workers who would benefit from an
increase in the minimum wage, and I have called on the
Congress to raise the minimum wage and signed an
executive order to raise it to $10.10 for individuals
working on new Federal service contracts. I have also
proposed expanding overtime protections for certain
groups of salaried employees--many of whom are women--
and worked to ensure all Americans have access to
quality, affordable child care while they are on the
job or in school. And because no woman should have to
worry about being fired from her job for missing a day
of work when she is sick, caring for a sick family
member, or welcoming a new child into her family, we
have supported States, communities, and businesses in
expanding policies for paid family leave and paid sick
days. Additionally, we have called on the Congress to
pass the Healthy Families Act to allow employees to
earn sick leave.
Women deserve to make their own health care choices
without interference from politicians or insurance
companies. The Affordable Care Act expands insurance
coverage for vital health services for women, including
contraceptive care, prenatal care, and maternal care,
and it protects women from being charged more than men
simply based on gender.
Finally, every woman should have the chance to dream,
grow, and thrive free from intimidation or violence,
and my Administration has taken unprecedented steps to
end domestic and sexual violence. We convened a White
House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual
Assault, and launched
[[Page 52172]]
It's On Us--a campaign aimed at raising awareness of
and preventing sexual assault on college campuses.
These are part of our broader effort to make sure that
all survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence
are supported and that our laws are fully enforced.
Women's equality is a core civil and human rights
principle in the United States and around the world.
Across America, women are contributing to our economy
and our Nation in innovative and exciting ways. From
businesses to battlefields, women are vital to the
prosperity and security of our country. As we celebrate
the last 95 years of progress in advancing women's
rights, let us rededicate ourselves to the idea that
our Nation is not yet complete: there is still work to
do to secure the blessings of our country for every
American daughter.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2015, as
Women's Equality Day. I call upon the people of the
United States to celebrate the achievements of women
and promote gender equality in our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2015-21449
Filed 8-26-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F5