Building a Confident America: Why We Need Women At The Table
“Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail their failure must be but a challenge to others.” — Amelia Earhart
It often seems that when men look in the mirror, they see a Congressman staring right back at them. I know, firsthand, that it just isn’t the same for women. It wasn’t until I had received significant prodding from my family and friends that I even considered running for public office in the first place.
But things are changing.
I hail from Kansas, which has long been on the vanguard of women’s rights. We were the first state to propose constitutional women’s suffrage, the first to elect a female mayor, and Kansas is the home of the indomitable Amelia Earhart. Even so, I am only the fifth woman from Kansas to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and while we are making progress, as the Vice Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, I am only the 30th woman in history to hold a leadership position in either branch of Congress. Currently, female Members make up only 20 percent of the U.S. House of Representatives, but that number is growing every election cycle. It is now possible to see the day when we no longer use “only” as a precursor when we speak to the number of women serving as elected officials.
Women make up over half of the population, and when they run for office, they often win. The challenge we face is encouraging more women to grab hold of their moment and put themselves forward. The ambitious, highly qualified women of America have shaped this nation to make it the great country we see today — a more diverse Congress will only bring further success and greater opportunities for every person in America.
The Republican-led House is continuing the process of creating equal opportunity for all.
We have passed legislation to improve the education system for our children — so that each child, male or female, can receive the tools they need to succeed. We are helping tackle the unaffordable costs of higher education for college students, so that the looming specter of student debt does not prevent anyone, regardless of their background, from attending college. We have passed legislation to stop suicide for our female veterans because women should not have to worry about the care they might receive if they choose to fight for their country. Additionally, this past year, Congress passed and the President signed S. 178, Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 — the first real human trafficking reform in 13 years. This new law provides authorities more resources necessary to identify and prevent human trafficking, and also provides support for survivors, so that they may work to rebuild their lives.
Still, there is a long way to go and the conversation is just getting started. As we celebrate Women’s History Month and reflect on our incredible feats thus far, we can use this as an opportunity to relaunch the national dialogue on how we achieve change.
We only have to look back over the past century to see the progress that has already been made. We now have the chance to seize the future and shape a stronger society.
In the Republican-led House, we will continue to make many positive strides this Congress. Each day, we will keep tackling these important issues — such as improving our staggering economy to create more jobs — and together we will build a confident America that both our daughters and sons deserve.
