WhiteHouse.gov Blog Feed: Council on Women and Girls

Today’s Girls Are Tomorrow’s Leaders

Valerie B. Jarrett — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:32:47 +0000

Last week, I attended the Equal Futures Partnership: From Promise to Progress event at the World Bank, to share progress made by the Obama Administration since the launch of the Equal Futures Partnership last September. The Equal Futures Partnership is a multilateral initiative that seeks to break down barriers to women’s economic empowerment and political participation so that every woman and girl can reach her full potential. It is a response to the challenge issued by President Obama in September 2011 at the UN General Assembly. He said, “Next year, we should each announce the steps we are taking to break down economic and political barriers that stand in the way of women and girls. That is what our commitment to human progress demands.”

For the United States, our Equal Futures commitments seek to promote four key objectives: opening doors to quality education and high-paying career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields; breaking the cycle of violence and ensuring economic security for survivors of violence; promoting civic education and public leadership for girls; and expanding support for women entrepreneurs.

On Thursday, I was joined by Dr. Jim Kim, President of the World Bank; Jack Lew, U.S. Treasury Secretary; Gene Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council; and Tina Tchen, Executive Director of the Council on Women and Girls -- along with finance ministers and other high-level delegates from founding partner countries, new partner countries, the private sector, and civil society organizations. I shared that the United States has completed implementation of nearly all of our commitments. You can read more about our progress here and our broader efforts on empowering women and girls here.

Other countries also discussed their progress and goals, as well as why advancing Equal Futures was so important to them.

On Friday, the White House convened a meeting with a wide range of business leaders to further discuss potential partnership opportunities to create equal futures.

For the United States, Equal Futures fits into President Obama’s larger goal of supporting women and girls. We continue to work through the White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that the needs of women and girls are taken into account in Administration actions and in the legislation this administration supports. President Obama recently signed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act into law. And our 2014 budget strengthens initiatives that support women and girls, with investments to ensure equal pay, to help working families and women-owned small businesses, and to improve health services. On the international front, we’ve made promoting gender equality and advancing the status of women central to our foreign policy.

During the meetings, I was greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm and commitment of other countries to empower women. Together, I know that we can create a world where every woman and girl has the chance to live up to her potential.

Valerie B. Jarrett is a Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. She oversees the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and chairs the White House Council on Women and Girls.

White House Announces Girl emPower as Equal Futures Challenge Notable App

Sarah Hurwitz and Brian Forde — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:13:10 +0000

At the UN General Assembly in September 2011, President Obama issued the following challenge:

“This week, the United States signed a new Declaration on Women’s Participation. Next year, we should each announce the steps we are taking to break down economic and political barriers that stand in the way of women and girls. That is what our commitment to human progress demands.”

In response, the United States is working with countries around the world as part of a new international effort – the Equal Futures Partnership – to politically and economically empower women in each of our countries. As part of this effort, the White House launched the Equal Futures App Challenge to spur the creation of apps that inspire girls to become leaders in our democracy. Check out this video message about the challenge from President Obama:

After a rigorous round of review from our panel of distinguished judges – including Jack Dorsey, Creator and Co-Founder of Twitter, and Academy Award-winning actor and advocate, Geena Davis – we’re thrilled to announce our notable app: Girl emPower, created by Laura Phelps and Andrew Cavanagh.

This free iPad app includes the following features designed to inspire girls to serve as leaders in our government:

A map highlighting women members of Congress all across the country that allows users to immediately learn about their biographies, read their latest tweets about the issues they’re focusing on, review their websites, and more.
Inspiring videos of distinguished women leaders talking about their diverse career paths.
A collection of fun facts about how our government works and a quiz game that allows users to test their knowledge of what they’ve learned.

This app is ready to download – spread the word and help us inspire the civic leaders of tomorrow!

Sarah Hurwitz is the Senior Advisor to the White House Council on Women and Girls

Brian Forde is the Senior Advisor to the U.S. Chief Technology Officer for Mobile and Data Innovation

Students Invent the Future

Valerie Jarrett — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:29:47 +0000

A rocket that launched raw eggs. A device that improves vision without glasses. And a mobile application for parents, created by a babysitter. Yesterday, I heard about and saw these amazing projects and more, at one of the liveliest events of the year—the third annual White House Science Fair. We welcomed 100 students from more than 40 states, representing 45 different STEM competitions and organizations.

The White House Science Fair is a key commitment in the President’s Educate to Innovate campaign to inspire more girls and boys to excel in STEM subjects. As the President has noted, “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.”

I had the opportunity to visit several of the 30 exhibits, and met students like Jessika Baral, from Fremont, California, who created a device to strengthen eye muscles and improve peripheral vision in children and adults by as much as 87%. And Shaquiesha Davis, from Chicago, who created a mobile application, Baby B 4 Me, to help give parents a sense of comfort while their children are in the care of a babysitter or nanny. She drew upon her own babysitting experience to create this technology, and wants to one day write books to teach children how to code. And a trio of high school girls, Isabella Marie Leighton, Dalia Ivon Castillo, and Ruth Marie Moltz Long, from San Antonio, who made and launched a rocket full of eggs to a precise altitude and landed the rocket in a specific time window.

I also visited with Cassidy Wright, from Boston, who created a light-up banner made with LED lights to encourage teens to be themselves, as well as Chevanne Binns-Wallace from Baltimore, who built a underwater robot.

These young women and men are an inspiration for our efforts to encourage STEM careers, especially for girls. Throughout the Administration, including the White House Council on Women and Girls and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, we are launching initiatives that include STEM mentoring and education.

President Obama also visited several exhibits. He concluded by giving remarks to the group, and noted that yesterday was Earth Day, when the world comes together to reflect on how we can better preserve the world for future generations. Fittingly, several of the exhibits focused on energy technology.

President Obama also announced new commitments for STEM education and innovation, such as a new AmeriCorps track for STEM and new mentoring campaigns.

In his remarks yesterday to the students, President Obama said, “We’re here to celebrate these young scientists and visionaries who dream, and create, and innovate; who ask the question, why not? Why not try something better? Something that’s faster; something that helps more people. And that drive, that refusal to give up, that focus on the future is part of what makes America great.”

I was incredibly inspired and excited by all the students I met yesterday. Combined with hard work and persistence, the students showed us that the future is as limitless as their imagination.

Valerie B. Jarrett is a Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. She is also the Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls and oversees the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Women in Foreign Policy and Politics

Avra Siegel — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:04:54 +0000

How to find a mentor. How to face a difficult challenge. The definition of success. These were just a few of the topics covered during the two events we held yesterday in honor of Women’s History Month. Here at the White House, we’ve had a whirlwind Women’s History Month, which has been full of discussions, events, and even a film screening.

In just the past two weeks, we’ve welcomed guests to a mentoring panel event and an East Room celebration with President Obama and the First Lady, highlighting President Obama’s commitment to supporting women and girls. Just yesterday, we hosted a group of students at a panel and screening of the “Makers: Women Who Make America” documentary. We closed out the month with two great events focused on career development.

Women in Foreign Policy

First, the East Room was transformed into a foreign policy classroom as we welcomed college and graduate students from across Washington DC for a discussion on Women in Foreign Policy. Our panel of seasoned practitioners shared stories and advice about breaking into foreign policy and national security careers. The panelists included:

Linda Etim, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa for USAID. In this capacity, she oversees the Office of Sudan and South Sudan Programs and the Office of West African Affairs. Prior to joining USAID, Linda served as the White House Director for Sudan, South Sudan, and East African Affairs.
Caitlin Hayden, Spokesperson for the National Security Council here at the White House. Caitlin also has spent time at State, focusing on press, speechwriting and South and Central Asia policy. She also has worked as the spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Michele Flournoy, Former Undersecretary for Defense for Policy. In that role, she was the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations.
Maria Otero, Former Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, U.S. State Department. In her position, Maria oversaw U.S. foreign policy issues of democracy and human rights, trafficking, rule of law, crisis prevention and response, global criminal justice, countering violent extremism and much more.

Nia-Malika Henderson, a national political reporter for The Washington Post, moderated the panel. The panelists offered some bits of advice for the young women in the audience:

Learn languages. Don’t be afraid to take the unbeaten path. And travel to another country, in order to be the global citizen you need to be to represent the United States.

See below for the full video.

African American Women on the Hill Panel

Later in the afternoon, we hosted an African American Women on the Hill panel. African American women working in Capitol Hill or other political and policy organizations for a lively discussion with a panel of White House staffers, who shared their stories about how they became passionate about public service, how they ended up at the White House, and how they define success. The panelists, which included Danielle Crutchfield, Assistant to the President and Director of Scheduling and Advance, Racquel Russell, Deputy Assistant to the President on Economic Mobility and Urban Affairs, Tonya Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Legislative Affairs for the Vice President, encouraged the audience to stay true to themselves, to reach out and help others as they professionally advance, and to learn from every opportunity.

It is our hope that the events provided guidance, encouragement, and perspective for all who attended. If their energy and enthusiasm is any indication, our next generation of leaders is ready to tackle the challenges of the 21^st century and change the world.

Avra Siegel is the Deputy Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls

Women in Silicon Valley Leading the Way

Rebecca Blank — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:20:31 +0000

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from The Commerce Blog

Yesterday, I met with women who are fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in our economy through their leadership at top venture capital firms in Silicon Valley.

We discussed the need for more girls and women to be able to find opportunities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, where women comprise less than one-fourth of the workforce. We also discussed how women are investing in and leading startups and businesses in key areas that support U.S. competitiveness, such as clean energy, healthcare, telecommunications, bioscience, and other fast-growing fields.

It's clear that women investors play a crucial role in helping ensure that the best private-sector ideas - including those coming from women entrepreneurs - get the resources they need to help build companies and create jobs.

Strengthening the role of women in business and technology is an important goal of the Obama Administration, supported by the White House Council on Women and Girls. The Commerce Department, for its part, offers post-doctoral research opportunities, scholarships, and unique experiences aimed at encouraging girls to consider fulfilling and rewarding careers in STEM fields.

More broadly, the Administration as a whole has launched efforts like Educate to Innovate and Race to the Top, which help inspire young people of all backgrounds to go into the high-pay, high-skilled fields of science and technology. These are key components of the President’s goal to move U.S. students from the middle to the top of the pack in math and science achievement over the next decade, and to engage girls and other students who are historically underrepresented in these fields.

It’s why the Council on Women and Girls established the Women in STEM Speakers Bureau two years ago to connect students with senior female Federal scientists and engineers, like our very own Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Jane Lubchenco and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Anna Gomez. And just last September, the Administration highlighted the work that the private sector has contributed towards this goal as well, like Harvey Mudd and Piazza’s groundbreaking partnership to expose 20,000 students to 500 women mentors in just a few months.

We want to help more girls and women find their own path to success - perhaps following in the footsteps of some of the role models I met this morning.

If we're successful in providing more paths for all Americans to pursue education, training, and jobs in the STEM fields, I'm confident that our nation will become even more competitive in the years ahead.

Rebecca Blank is Deputy Secretary of Commerce.

Announcing AAPI Women Champions of Change

Tina Tchen and Ruchi Bhowmik — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:49:22 +0000

We know that the American people are the source of some of the best ideas and most innovative solutions. That’s why the White House Champions of Change series spotlights ordinary citizens who are demonstrating extraordinary commitment to their community, their country, and their fellow citizens.

Across the country, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women are doing extraordinary things to create a more equal, safe, and prosperous future. In business, the arts, civil rights, health, and so many other fields, AAPI women are helping to improve the lives of their fellow Americans.

This May, on the occasion of AAPI Heritage Month, the White House Office of Public Engagement, White House Council on Women and Girls, and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will honor a small group of AAPI women as Champions of Change. And we want your help! Members of the public are invited to submit nominations online until Friday, March 29, 2013. A small group of AAPI women who represent diverse experiences and backgrounds will be honored as Champions of Change and invited to the White House for an event in early May.

Click here to nominate an AAPI woman as a Champion of Change before Friday, March 29, 2013 (Note: Under “Theme of Service” please choose “AAPI Women Leaders”)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact AAPI@who.eop.gov. For the latest news on this and other efforts by the Obama Administration to engage the AAPI community, please sign up for updates.

Tina Tchen is Chief of Staff to the First Lady and Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Ruchi Bhowmik is Deputy Cabinet Secretary.

Working Toward a Tech Sector that Reflects America

Valerie Jarrett — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:26:02 +0000

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Technology Inclusion Summit, hosted by Chief Technology Officer Todd Park, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Level Playing Field Institute. It was an amazing gathering of private and public partners who are united in their efforts to expand opportunities for training, education and jobs in technology.

President Obama has always believed that technology is an essential part of growing our economy, creating jobs and remaining globally competitive. The President continues to be committed to encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit in our country, starting with setting a goal of 1 million Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) graduates over the next decade. This effort also means that we need to collectively act to knock down any barriers that stand in the way.

Last August, during the Tech Inclusion Roundtable, participants came up with some great private-sector initiatives to help drive innovation across every community. Whether it was pioneering new educational tools for students of all ages, bringing technical training to underrepresented communities, or mobilizing tech company CEOs to establish mentoring programs for young people, every one of these initiatives and ideas has the potential to shape America’s future.

It’s not enough to simply innovate and stay competitive-- we must do so in a way that’s as inclusive, diverse, and dynamic as the makeup of our country.

I am especially excited about how we can attract talented individuals from groups that are historically underrepresented in STEM fields – including women.

Even though women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 percent of STEM jobs. This gap is even greater when it comes to computing-related occupations, where the percentage of female employees has decreased over the past decade.

This tells us that we must do more to encourage women and girls to pursue careers in these fields, as well as individuals from other underrepresented groups. And one story continues to inspire me in this area.

Last year, Brittany Wenger, a 17-year old student from Florida, won the Google Global Science Fair grand prize. Brittany was recognized for her development of a web-based application known as a “neural network,” that can help to more accurately detect breast cancer.

Not only is Brittany a role model to other girls considering jobs in computer programming and biomedical research, but she also has produced a lifesaving technology that could help women across the globe.

We must give more women like Brittany the opportunity to make historic discoveries. Events such as the Tech Inclusion Summit help more women and girls, minorities and youth to not only spark a spirit of innovation, but to keep it growing.

National Freedom Day: A Commitment to End Modern Slavery

Sarah Mendelson — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:33:54 +0000

Today is National Freedom Day, commemorating President Lincoln’s signing of the joint resolution that led to the Constitution’s 13th Amendment banning slavery in the United States. It is a day when freedom for all Americans is celebrated. Yet, almost 150 years later, while one form of slavery has been abolished in our country, another has quietly flourished around the world.

From forced labor to sex trafficking to child soldiers, modern slavery entails the use of force, fraud, or coercion of another for the purposes of exploitation. An estimated 20 million men, women and children around the world, including thousands in the United States, are living in bondage, confirming that the fight to end slavery is far from over. Today we reflect on what we’ve accomplished and recommit ourselves to what President Obama called “one of the great human rights causes of our time.”

USAID has been committed to combating human trafficking for over a decade, programming more than $180 million in nearly 70 countries since 2001. Our efforts are part of a larger government-wide approach that has involved nearly every federal department and agency. Today, we are expanding our commitment, answering President Obama’s call to end this barbaric human rights offense.

A year ago at the White House, we launched a new Counter-Trafficking in Persons Policy (C-TIP), focusing on concrete, measurable principles and objectives that include increasing institutional accountability within USAID and leveraging innovation, 21st century technology, and partnerships to combat trafficking.

With procurement specialists and legal advisors, we have created a Standard Operating Procedure to bolster compliance with USAID’s Code of Conduct, holding our employees, contractors, and grantees to the highest standards of behavior. We’re training our workforce to recognize and report human trafficking incidents; all USAID employees must report suspected violations. We’re increasing protections against abuses prior to awarding contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, and we’re responding to allegations of abuse swiftly and decisively.

Our team was also proud to play an active role in the whole-of-government effort, led by the White House, to put in place the President’s Executive Order 13627 on Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts.

The U.S. Government recognizes that no country or government alone can end modern slavery. It will take people and organizations outside of government. That’s why we are especially eager to engage young people and students who are uniquely qualified and positioned to help stimulate change through 21st century technology. Traffickers are using technology, like online classified ads, social networking sites, and SMS texting, to lure victims. We want to harness technology to combat these criminals.

In October 2012, a few short weeks after President Obama’s moving speech on human trafficking at the Clinton Global Initiative, USAID Administrator Dr. Raj Shah launched Challenge Slavery, a Campus Challenge, at Pepperdine University. The Campus Challenge invited students and scholars on campuses across the United States and around the world to submit innovative, forward-looking solutions to prevent trafficking, rescue victims, and provide support to survivors.

We cannot wait to announce the winners this March, though perhaps most exciting is the opportunity to grow a global network of C-TIP champions.

2012 was truly an incredible year for USAID and the world-wide counter-trafficking movement. We trained hundreds of government and social workers on protecting the rights of trafficking victims in Cambodia; we watched as 70,000 young people gathered in the People’s Square in Burma for a historic MTV EXIT counter-trafficking concert; and we were there when ten South Eastern European countries adopted a shared Standard Operating Procedure to care for trafficking victims.

While there will be obstacles, I believe 2013 will yield even more progress. We still need more data to better tailor our C-TIP programs and establish concrete baselines so we can measure progress and results. We need to better understand the combination of variables that enable certain actors to engage in C-TIP activities, and the impact of our interventions, so we can replicate what works and learn from what doesn’t.

But the momentum is truly building. Someday soon I hope February 1st will be known as “International Freedom Day,” celebrating the end of modern slavery around the world.

Sarah Mendelson is Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict & Humanitarian Assistance at USAID.

Encouraging Women to Lead in Public Service

Liz Montoya — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:00:56 +0000

We recently had the privilege at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to welcome our fellow Americans to a series of open house events here at our headquarters in Washington, D.C. This was part of a larger effort by Federal agencies to host activities for members of the public visiting our nation’s capital ahead of the Presidential Inauguration. Along with showcasing the important work of our own employees, the open house events also allowed us to solicit new ideas from leaders and citizens across the nation on important issues that face our country.

Moderator Eleanor Clift (pictured at left) guided the discussion featuring (from left to right) Representative Kyrsten Sinema, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget at DOI Rhea Suh, Policy Director to First Lady Jocelyn Frye, and Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chávez. (Photo from Office of Personnel Management)

One of my favorite events here at OPM was our “Women in Public Service” roundtable which featured Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), Director of Policy and Special Projects for the First Lady Jocelyn Frye, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget at DOI Rhea Suh, and Girl Scouts Chief Executive Officer Anna Maria Chávez. The panel event tackled how we might encourage and sustain more women taking leadership tracks within public service – whether that means government service, elected office, the non-profit world, or volunteering with their communities.

At the beginning of the President’s term, women made up 29 percent of the Federal government’s senior executive service positions. That is now up to 34 percent. That’s a tremendous improvement and a great start, but we’ve got more work to do. That’s why it was so thrilling to hear this panel and our public guests discuss how we reduce the barriers women still often face within their tracks to positions of leadership.

We were also glad to help job-seekers navigate the Federal hiring process with our find and apply workshop and our Veterans employment training. A tour of our Innovation Lab, and a short session with our facilitators let us showcase the efforts we’re making to spur innovations that get better, more efficient government. And discussions on disability employment and Hispanic employment issues brought together leaders from the public and private sectors to share ideas about what we can continue to do and what we can do better to boost recruitment among these two underrepresented groups. Apart from discussing our work and gathering great ideas, the dialogue with participants at each event reinforced the continued importance of our efforts to look beyond the Washington Beltway for best practices which can serve the American public.

Liz Montoya is the Chief of Staff at the Office of Personnel Management

Codeathons Expand to Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Boston in Support of the White House Equal Futures App Challenge

Brian Forde and Sarah Hurwitz — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:46:13 +0000

Back in September of 2011, in his address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama issued a call to action to countries around the world to “break down economic and political barriers that stand in the way of women and girls.” As part of America’s answer to this call, the White House launched the Equal Futures App Challenge – to create apps that inspire girls and young women to become leaders in our democracy.

Following on the first-ever White House Codeathon this past December, tech companies, non-profits and youth and education organizations across the country joined together to support this challenge by hosting a series of codeathons that took place simultaneously in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Boston earlier this month.

Altogether, around 125 seasoned technologists and girls of all ages spent the day brainstorming and building apps to submit to the challenge. And we were excited to join all three of the codeathons via video conference and see so many eager and inspired coders ready to tackle such an important issue.

As a result of these codeathons, teams are hard at work designing and developing their way to new apps that inspire girls to run for office and serve as leaders in their communities and our government.

And excitement about this challenge is building, both in the tech community and beyond. Leaders from a variety of sectors have stepped up to serve as judges, including Academy Award-Winning actor Geena Davis, who stated, “Teen girls are stepping up as leaders in extraordinary ways these days. This contest will help them inspire more girls to lead, and we will need them -- as creators of technology, as entrepreneurs and leaders in business, and in our State Houses, the Houses of Congress and the White House.”

Another Challenge judge, Jocelyn Goldfein, Director of Engineering at Facebook, noted, "I believe in the power of teenage girls to change the world. I am inspired by their courage, determination, and vision. Developing women leaders is one of the best investments I can think of toward social justice, eradicating poverty, and making a better world."

For more information about the challenge, please visit: equalfutures.challenge.gov – and remember to submit your app by 12:00am EDT on January 19.

Brian Forde is Senior Advisor to the U.S. CTO for Mobile and Data Innovation

Sarah Hurwitz is Senior Advisor to the Council on Women and Girls

This Is Our Future: Attracting Women and Minorities to the Wind Industry

Dot Harris — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:01:08 +0000

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from energy.gov

This past Wednesday, the Energy Department livestreamed a conversation between Energy Secretary Steven Chu and U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), two leaders and champions of renewable energy innovation. The topic at hand – the future of the U.S. wind industry – was driven by questions from a live audience and participants online using Twitter, Facebook, Google +, and email to ask Energy about wind technology, policy, and careers.

The last question of this important discussion asked how we can ensure that women and minorities are involved in wind energy jobs. As the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has reported, there is a large interest and achievement gap in many STEM jobs in United States, resulting in serious underrepresentation of women and minorities in STEM.

Senator Mark Udall spoke about the need to invest in community college, land grant, and state University STEM programs, which are training students to be part of the future and current clean energy economy. “This is happening, this is our future,” Senator Mark Udall said. “It’s so important for America to invest in its people, its human capital.”

Secretary Steven Chu shared his vision for instilling the belief in all Americans that there are opportunities to make a livelihood in the wind industry. “Women and minorities should not only be encouraged to do this, this is taking full advantage of the human capital we have in the country … which is our biggest asset,” Secretary Chu said. This is why we must continue investment in the education of the future, training the next generation of wind industry employees, small business entrepreneurs, and innovators.

Listen to the full response from Senator Udall and Secretary Chu on all questions here, and check out some of the conversation on this topic online that took place during the event.

Dot Harris is Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the Department of Energy

White House Announces Judges for Equal Futures App Challenge

Sarah Hurwitz and Brian Forde — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

(Picture drawn by Abigail Dabu, Age 14)

“…I would like to run for some political office when I grow up. Why? Because there are so many changes that need to be made regarding important issues that are not happening. And we need more women making decisions in our country!” -- Meera Kota, Age 15

“This week, the United States signed a new Declaration on Women’s Participation. Next year, we should each announce the steps we are taking to break down economic and political barriers that stand in the way of women and girls. That is what our commitment to human progress demands.” -- President Barack Obama, September 21, 2011

Building on President Obama’s challenge at the UN General Assembly in September 2011, the United States will be working with countries around the world as part of a new international effort – the Equal Futures Partnership – to politically and economically empower women in each of our countries.

Among the United States’ commitments through this partnership are new efforts to promote civic education and public leadership for girls, including the launch of an Equal Futures App Challenge earlier this year: to create an app that promotes civic education and/or inspires girls to serve as leaders in our democracy.

Today we are pleased to announce that the following leaders have signed on to act as judges:

·      Representative Barbara Ballard
·      Anna Maria Chavez, CEO, Girl Scouts
·      Geena Davis, Academy Award-Winning Actor; Founder, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
·      Jack Dorsey, Creator and Co-Founder, Twitter; Founder and CEO, Square
·      Tiffany Dufu, President, the White House Project
·      Jocelyn Goldfein, Director of Engineering, Facebook
·      Mayor Elizabeth Kautz
·      Senator Lisa Murkowski
·      Andrew Shue, Co-Founder, dosomething.org; Co-Founder, cafemom.com
·      Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
·      Judy Vredenburgh, President and CEO, Girls Inc.

Individuals can learn more about the challenge and submit their apps on equalfutures.challenge.gov up until January 12, 2013 at 12:00am EDT.

Click here to learn more about the Equal Futures Partnership.

IDEAS AND GUIDANCE FROM GIRLS THEMSELVES ...

"I’d be very interested in learning about the entire process of running for office; from start to finish. Learning about the basic things like knowing the qualifications and paperwork involved in order to run for office. Learning about how much money is spent when running for office would be interesting too. I think it would be pretty interesting to learn about being a leader. I, for one, could really use some tips. I’d like to learn about how to be confident and to be able to speak eloquently. Also, what does it take to be a great leader? What characteristics does a good leader have and shouldn’t have?" - Jennifer Nguyen, Age 17

Picture drawn by Jennifer Nguyen, Age 17

"I would like to learn techniques about delegating, organizing groups, public speaking, and about how to better interact with people." - Katriona Guthrie-Honea, Age 16

"I would like to learn about the different ways that candidates use to persuade their voters. I would also like to know what are successful strategies for running for office and getting along well with the people. I would also like to learn how you apply for a position in office. I would like to learn more ways to give memorable speeches that are both entertaining and informative…" - Emily Kimura, Age 14

"I would like to know more about the propositions and laws, to learn in detail what these propositions or laws do and how it benefits the people but can also be a hindrance... I would like to learn how to be a better speaker because you can’t be a good leader if you can’t communicate your thoughts and ideas efficiently." - Diane Delfin, Age 14

Picture drawn by Diane Delfin, Age 14

Sarah Hurwitz is a Senior Advisor to the Council on Women and Girls and Brian Forde is a Senior Advisor to the U.S. CTO for Mobile and Data Innovation.

An Inclusive Vision Of Entrepreneurship

Karen Mills — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:11:04 +0000

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from SBA.gov

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak at the National Association of Women Business Owner’s (NAWBO) conference in Louisville. It was a chance to talk about the issues and the opportunities that women business owners and entrepreneurs face as they build innovative and successful companies across the United States.

Forty years ago, women owned just 5 percent of all small businesses. Today, women own 30 percent, which equals a total of 7.8 million companies generating $1.2 trillion a year in sales.

These are entrepreneurs like Rachel Carson, whose company Helicopter Tech, Inc., is selling aviation products and equipment to over 23 countries. Rachel is using SBA’s export loan products to expand her business into lucrative markets around the world. Another example is Ms. Jenny’s Pickles in North Carolina. After the market turned, Jenny Fulton partnered with her assistant, Ashlee Furr, to start their pickle business. They worked with an SBA counselor and now their products are sold in grocery stores all over the US.

That’s what we are focused on across the SBA. Ensuring that more small business owners and entrepreneurs have the access and opportunity they need to turn great business ideas into viable and successful businesses. And we are continuing to look for new ways to support and strengthen women small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Overall, since the President took office, SBA has supported more than $12.4 billion in lending through more than 35,500 SBA loans to women-owned businesses. In addition, we put into place the Women’s Contracting Rule, which means that for the first time Federal Agencies can set aside contracting opportunities for women-owned small business in over 300 industries where women are underrepresented

And as part of National Women’s Small Business Ownership Month, which is being celebrated throughout October, the SBA will host a series of webinars to help educate and empower women entrepreneurs and small business owners. These webinars will feature speakers from core SBA programs and information on enhancements to our programs to meet the needs of more women small business owners.

At the SBA, and across the Administration, we believe that entrepreneurs and small business owners are one of our nation’s greatest assets.

And we know that when you embrace an inclusive vision of entrepreneurship, one that draws entrepreneurs of all demographics, backgrounds and locations, not only do the businesses they start succeed, America succeeds.

Karen Mills is the SBA Administrator.

Launching the Equal Futures Partnership to Expand Women’s Political and Economic Participation

Liz Drew — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:53:21 +0000

It is no secret that the world has yet to achieve the simple yet profound goal of ensuring equal futures for our daughters and our sons. Today, less than five percent of the world’s heads of state are women, and women make up just nineteen percent of representatives in parliaments worldwide. Despite producing more than forty percent of the world’s food, women own less than one percent of the world’s farmland.

Recognizing these disparities, one year ago in a speech before the UN General Assembly, President Obama challenged heads of state to break down political and economic barriers to women’s equality. Last week, Secretary Clinton launched a groundbreaking response to the President’s challenge: the Equal Futures Partnership. The United States was joined by twelve other founding members (Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Denmark, Finland, Indonesia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Peru, Senegal and Tunisia, along with the EU) each of whom made national commitments to policy, legal, and regulatory reforms that would promote two mutually reinforcing goals: expanded economic opportunity for women; and, increased political and civic participation by women at local, state and national levels. Around 250 guests -- including Senator Patrick Leahy, President Jahjaga of Kosovo, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller of Jamaica, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, academic leaders, CEOs of major companies, and representatives from civil society organizations -- attended the standing-room only event.

President Obama has made clear across our foreign policy that we are most effective when we lead by example. And Valerie Jarrett, Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, announced a number of U.S. commitments in response to the Equal Futures challenge — efforts to promote four key objectives: advancing women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields; expanding economic security for survivors of domestic violence; promoting civic education and public leadership for girls; and enhancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The United States recognizes that while some countries have narrowed the gender gap in women’s political and economic participation, all of us have more work to do to close that gap, and this in turn will help secure greater prosperity for everyone.

All the founding members of Equal Futures have now announced their own commitments. At the launch event, Australian Prime Minister Gillard shared her country’s pledge to increase Australian women’s participation in male-dominated industries— and also praised Secretary Clinton’s leadership to promote women and girls, saying “we stand taller and walk freer” because of it. President Yayi of Benin committed to undertake a review of laws and policies impeding women’s economic opportunity and public leadership. Foreign Minister Rafik Abdesselam of Tunisia proudly reaffirmed Tunisia’s commitment to advance women’s equal rights and reinvigorate implementation of their national strategy on gender-based violence. And these are only a few of the important new commitments made through Equal Futures.

This is just the beginning. From Croatia to Thailand, other countries have already committed to join the partnership. And all Equal Future partners will work with national stakeholders inside and outside of government—including civil society and the private sector—to strengthen our commitments and hold ourselves accountable; UN Women has also pledged their support to help countries translate their commitments into action. And in April 2013, the World Bank will host the next Equal Futures meeting.

In his UN General Assembly address the day after the Equal Futures launch, President Obama welcomed the “new commitments [that] have been made through the Equal Futures Partnership to ensure that women and girls can fully participate in politics and pursue opportunity.” And he generated loud applause when he declared, “The future must not belong to those who bully women -- it must be shaped by girls who go to school, and those who stand for a world where our daughters can live their dreams just like our sons…”

As we build this movement, we welcome feedback and collaboration from all those who share our goals.

Liz Drew is the Director for Human Rights and Gender on the National Security Staff

White House Equal Futures App Challenge to Promote Civic Education and Public Leadership for Girls

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:00:00 +0000

President Obama’s Address to the United Nations General Assembly, September 21, 2011

Building on President Obama’s challenge at the UN General Assembly in September 2011, the United States will be working with various country partners in a new international effort – the Equal Futures Partnership – to break down barriers to women’s political participation and economic empowerment. The goal of the Equal Futures Partnership is for each member country to expand opportunities for women and girls to fully participate in public life and to drive more inclusive economic growth.

As part of these efforts, the White House Council on Women and Girls is launching an app challenge: to create an app that promotes civic education and/or inspires girls to serve as leaders in our democracy. Notable apps will be highlighted on the White House website and in the White House blog.

Apps should accomplish one or more of the following:

Educate girls about the gender gap in public leadership using existing, publicly-available information (e.g. properly attributed data from websites such as that of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, etc.)
Connect girls with role models by highlighting women in public leadership positions
Teach girls about what it means to be an effective leader
Empower girls to engage with their elected representatives
Prepare girls to serve in government and run for office themselves

Individuals can learn more about the challenge and submit their apps on equalfutures.challenge.gov between September 25, 2012 at 12:00am EDT and January 12, 2013 at 12:00am EDT.

African American Women's Forum

Heather Foster — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 20:35:52 +0000

Today, the White House hosted an African American Women’s Forum, bringing women from across the nation together for an opportunity to discuss issues that are important to women in the African American community. First Lady Michelle Obama surprised guests to provide some of her thoughts on the theme, “Mother, Sister, Daughter, Leader,” an idea she fully embodies.

Many topics were discussed including education and college affordability. One of the panels at the forum focused on the Affordable Care Act and how it will affect African American women. The Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, discussed the importance of prevention for women and emphasized this point by leading the group in an exercise activity! Jocelyn Frye, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady, provided insight on current and future projects Mrs. Obama is working on, and Deputy Adminstrator Marie Johns led a panel on the economy and education. Gene Sperling, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council, analyzed the current economic status of African American Women in the United States and shared his plan to enact more meaningful fiscal change in the community as a whole.

Heather Foster is an Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement.

Join the Conversation: STEM Master Teacher Corps

Hallie Schneir — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 23:06:37 +0000

This Thursday, July 26^th, at 1 p.m. EDT, Obama Administration officials will host a conversation on the creation of a new national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Master Teacher Corps – a networked community of talented educators serving as a national resource committed to advancing STEM teaching and learning.

Launched last week, the STEM Master Teacher Corps initiative will strengthen the quality of STEM education nation-wide and help meet the President’s goal of moving U.S. students from the middle to the top of the pack in math and science.

Starting with 50 teachers in each of 50 sites, the STEM Master Teacher Corps will eventually expand to 10,000 educators across the country, who will make a multi-year commitment to deepening their subject matter expertise, mentoring other teachers, and building a community of practice where they live and teach. In exchange, Master Teachers will receive recognition and rewards, including additional compensation, for their work as a Corps member.

Jumpstarted by approximately $100 million in existing funds available through the Department of Education’s Teacher Incentive Fund competition, the Corps will be supported by an additional $1 billion from the President’s 2013 budget request currently under consideration by Congress.

To learn more about this new commitment and what it means for students across the country, please RSVP here to join us on Thursday’s call.

Hallie Schneir is an Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement.

Honoring Title IX Every Day

Russlynn Ali — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:34:51 +0000

A little over two weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights went to court to mark the 40th anniversary of Title IX: the basketball court.

Title IX is the landmark legislation that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funds. The law has since helped pave the way for millions of girls throughout the country to live their dreams of becoming scientists, business owners, athletes, or whatever else they might dream of being.

One of the law’s most notable effects has been to increase opportunities for women and girls in sports, and we celebrated this by playing a little pick-up basketball at the Department of Interior. Energetic senior officials throughout the Obama Administration -- Secretary Duncan, Secretary Salazar, Secretary Sebelius, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling, and Special Assistant to the President Samantha Power – joined coaches and players from Howard University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, and the WNBA to play basketball alongside students from District of Columbia public schools. Together, they reminded us that when women are afforded equal opportunities, everybody wins.

As we celebrate Title IX’s successes, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education also works to ensure its vigorous enforcement. Case in point: On July 2, OCR announced resolution agreements with four school districts located in Arizona, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas that will ensure that girls get the equal athletic opportunities they deserve.

The agreements stem from complaints filed with OCR by National Women’s Law Center alleging that, in school districts around the country, girls’ athletic interests and abilities were not being effectively accommodated, in violation of Title IX. Upon investigating, OCR found that female students were seriously underrepresented in sports.

Fortunately, the school districts under investigation stepped up and began to work toward lasting solutions. OCR and each district’s leadership teams proactively formed voluntary agreements, with each district committing to provide equal opportunities for female students to participate in athletics programs at its high schools.

With these resolution agreements, we’ve inched a little closer to reaching Title IX’s promise of achieving equity for all students, regardless of their sex, on the playing field and in all aspects of their education. I am both energized and sobered by these resolutions—they remind me both how far we’ve come over the past 40 years in leveling the playing field for girls, and just how far we have left to go.

What is encouraging to me, knowing the path we must continue to travel, are the steps this Administration is taking to move us forward. On the anniversary of Title IX, the Administration announced a new inter-agency effort to coordinate the communication of responsibilities and promising practices regarding Title IX compliance in STEM programs and activities. To do our part, my office has committed to including vital information on equity in STEM education for women and girls in the technical assistance we provide to K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions around the country. And we also unveiled a data snapshot revealing important trends in gender equity in education. We’ve taken these steps and more to ensure that all individuals regardless of their sex have equitable educational opportunities, and we’ll continue to work hard every day toward this important goal.

Russlynn Ali is the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education.

@TechGirls: Brilliant, Fearless and Passionate

Suzanne Philion — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 16:27:50 +0000

Ed note: this post originally appeared on DipNote, the U.S. Department of State’s official blog

Our inaugural class of 25 TechGirls arrived in New York City late on the evening of Monday, June 25. For almost all of them, it was the first time they had set foot in the United States from their home countries in the Middle East and North Africa. We could immediately see what an amazing, talented, and passionate group of young women we would have the privilege of working with.

In July 2011, Secretary Clinton announced the launch of TechGirls -- a three-week, intensive youth exchange -- "to encourage innovation and promote the spread of new technologies to give women and girls the support that they need to become leaders in this field." Our Embassies ran a very competitive selection process, identifying the best and brightest young women with high achievements and aptitude in mathematics, science, and technology. There was no better example than Mai, a young woman from Alexandria, Egypt, who is a self-described “computer freak” who wants to be a cardiologist when she grows up. Mai believes that technology can provide better services for citizens based on her experience during last year's protests in Tahrir Square. Back in February 2011, Mai witnessed how Egyptians used social media to bring food and medical supplies to those who needed it most. She is inspired by this example and wants to replicate and extend it among a wider community in her home country.

Our TechGirls kicked off their adventure with three days in New York City, organized by Legacy International whose mission is to strengthen civil society and foster peace-building and conflict resolution worldwide. During that time, they had the opportunity to connect with Rachel Sterne, Chief Digital Officer for New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg; Global Kids, which works to develop youth leaders for the global stage; DoSomething.org, an organization which encourages young people to create their own vision for making a difference in their community; Souktel, which designs and delivers mobile phone services that link people with jobs and connect aid agencies with communities who need help; and an amazing team of female engineers and business development leaders at Google offices in NYC. Through these discussions, the TechGirls were able to see a variety of ways in which women can becomes leaders in the science and technology space.

The TechGirls came down to Washington, D.C., at the end of last week. On their first full day in the District, they spent the afternoon meeting many women in senior leadership positions at the White House, including the Office of Digital Strategy, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The TechGirls were joined at the White House by young women from West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Virginia. The TechGirls and the American students had meaningful discussions, sharing their enthusiasm for science and technology and experiences in science fairs around the world -- after just a couple of hours together, they walked out of the room promising to stay in touch and continue the conversation.

For their remaining time in the United States, the TechGirls will participate in the Wonder Space Tech Camp, hosted on American University's campus. The girls will have the chance to develop hands-on skills, such as programming, robotics, mobile application building, web design, video graphics, and 3D game design. They'll also connect with many players in the growing D.C. tech community, and develop the community projects they'll carry out when they return home.

It has been an absolute blast getting to know our inaugural group of TechGirls. The Department of State, like the great team behind Girls Who Code, recognizes the importance of inspiring young women to pursue educational and professional opportunities in the science and technology sphere. TechGirls is proving to be a fantastic exchange program for these young women, providing emerging talent with the skills and resources to pursue their dreams.

Stay engaged with TechGirls on Twitter and Facebook.

Suzanne Philion serves as the Senior Advisor for Innovation in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Celebrating 40 Years of Title IX: Getting Girls & Women in the Game!

Billie Jean King — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 17:25:30 +0000

When I was growing up in Long Beach, California in the 1950s and ‘60s, it never occurred to me that I would not be treated equal to my brother, Randy, and would not have the same opportunities as boys to succeed. I learned to play tennis on public courts and became a playground instructor and student-athlete at California State College in Los Angeles. I am a pre-Title IX athlete and did not receive any financial assistance for college. I had two jobs and thought I was living the good life. But nearby my male counterparts, Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe, had full athletic scholarships to play tennis at USC and UCLA.

Four decades ago on June 23^rd, the academic, athletic and professional fields of America were forever changed with the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This was a critical moment in our Nation’s history that I, and millions of girls and women like me, will remember and celebrate.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Those 37 words not only gave girls and women millions more opportunities to compete on an equal playing field in sports, they also empowered us to compete in any field throughout the course of our lives.

One year after Title IX passed, I accepted the challenge from Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon champion on the men’s tour. Bobby persistently pursued a match against me to be on national television. This challenge, known as the “The Battle of the Sexes,” was about more than just tennis. It was about social change, about women’s sports and women’s rights. A loss to Bobby Riggs would have probably been catastrophic for us from a public perspective. But I had to play the match. I wanted to change the hearts and minds of people to match the legislation. Girls and women can also be smart, fit and strong!

Before Title IX, there were five percent quotas for girls who wanted to be doctors. But now, it’s actually reversed. Fifty-four percent of the enrollment in higher education is women. Eighty-two percent of female business executives played sports, with the majority saying that lessons learned on the playing field contributed to their success.

Prior to Title IX, fewer than 300,000 girls competed in high school sports; now there are over 3 million. Title IX has increased female participation in sports exponentially. In response to greater opportunities to play, the number of high school girls participating in sports has risen ten-fold in the past 40 years, while six times as many women now compete in college sports. By the way, that increase has not hurt boys. In fact, male sports participation has also risen considerably since 1972!

Today, I am one of 27 million recreational tennis players. Tennis has given me my platform to continue my lifelong quest for equal opportunities for everyone. When I was 12 years old, I promised myself that I would fight for social change and gender equality.

Sports taught me leadership, perseverance, teamwork and how to play a supportive role on the court and off. It also taught me how to navigate in our culture. I use the lessons I learned from playing tennis every single day in my business life and in real life. Relationships, how to communicate, how to listen, how to notice body language…those are the nuances you learn on the playing field. The young women who play sports are more likely to graduate from high school, have higher grades, and score higher on standardized tests than non-athletes. Minority and underserved populations are more likely to participate in sports through their schools than through private organizations, making it even more critical that they have access to school-sponsored athletics so they can get the physical activity they need to grow up healthy, strong and confident.

But Title IX is not just about increasing opportunities for females. It has been a huge game-changer for girls and boys, women and men across America. But there is a lot of room for improvement and we still have a long way to go. There are 1.3 million fewer opportunities for girls than boys to participate in high school athletics and girls often still receive inferior equipment, facilities and scheduling. Coaching opportunities are also unequal. At the collegiate level, 43% of women’s teams are coached by women and only 3% of men’s teams are led by female coaches. Compensation levels and treatment across all fields are still not equal for women and men.

Obesity and health problems facing today’s youth affects us all and can lead to chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, asthma and heart disease. First Lady Michelle Obama is doing a great job through her Let’s Move! initiative to fight the childhood obesity epidemic by increasing access and opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating options in communities across America.

From a military point of view, we are in big trouble now. Many of our young men and women can’t even pass boot camp. They need a pre-boot camp to get through boot camp. So I often say that we’re all in this together and we need to help each other be the best that we can be. Each and every one of us deserves the best that life has to offer. That’s what Title IX represents to me.

We need to work together and help each other. We’ve got to continue to educate and promote equal opportunities for boys and girls, men and women. The health and security of our nation depends on it!

For more information about Title IX and to learn more about how you can get involved, visit www.fitness.gov.

Billie Jean King, Social Activist and Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition

Observing 40 Years of Title IX

Avra Siegel — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:07:17 +0000

This week marks the 40^th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation that changed the playing field for girls across the nation. With its 37 simple words, Title IX opened up a world of new opportunities ranging from athletic participation to access to education in science, technology, engineering, and math. In the years since the enactment of Title IX, athletic participation has increased over 1000%, creating more confident, empowered, and inspiring women to fuel the innovation and advancement of America. The Obama Administration is dedicated to furthering the 40 years of progress that Title IX has paved for us, from the $4.25 billion Race to the Top competition to close the STEM gap for girls, to honoring hardworking student-athletes like the Texas A&M University Women’s Basketball Team at the White House.

This Wednesday, June 20, the Council on Women and Girls will be hosting an event to mark the 40^th Anniversary of Title IX. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama & Chair of the Council on Women & Girls, and Tina Tchen, Chief of Staff to the First Lady and Executive Director of the Council on Women and Girls, will be joined by a group of notable advocates and leaders in the field to discuss the past, present, and future effects of Title IX.

To gear up for our celebration, we’ll be hosting a Twitter forum with the National Women’s Law Center on Tuesday, June 19 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Use the hashtag #WHTitleIX to share your thoughts and stories about Title IX.

You can also tune in on Wednesday, June 20 at 2:00 p.m. to www.whitehouse.gov/live to participate in our event and join the discussion live on Twitter at #WHTitleIX!

Avra Siegel is the Deputy Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Women Chart a New Course Onboard U.S. Navy Submarines

Brad Cooper — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:58:13 +0000

In 2009, U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced that for the first time in Navy history, women would be assigned to serve aboard Navy submarines.

Yesterday, the first contingent of 24 women who completed the Navy’s nuclear submarine program met with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. They were joined by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mark Ferguson.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet the U.S. Navy’s first contingent of women submariners to be assigned to the Navy’s operational submarine force, in the Blue Room of the White House, May 28, 2012. The 24 women were accepted into the Navy’s nuclear submarine program after completing an intensive training program and serve on ballistic and guided missile submarines throughout the Navy. Also attending were ADM Mark Ferguson, left, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, right. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) May 28, 2012.

The commitment by the Navy to put women on submarines has gone from idea to reality in just a few short years -- these women are now serving in a variety of important jobs aboard ballistic and guided missile submarines in the Navy's Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.

And they are exceptional women with enormous responsibility. A submarine is among the most technologically advanced machines ever built and one that requires a tremendous amount of skill, knowledge, personal discipline, and teamwork. Imagine working and living in a 300-600 foot long, 30-40 foot wide, three-story building with no windows, submerged beneath the surface of the ocean for months.

Take Lieutenant Britta W. Christianson, a native of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. After serving in the Navy onboard a Guided Missile Destroyer for more than 2 years, she volunteered for duty in Afghanistan, where she served in an important logistics and fueling leadership role with the Afghan National Police (ANP) as part of the NATO Training Mission. While deployed, she applied to the Navy Submarine Program, was accepted, and then reported to the USS OHIO, a Guided Missile Submarine, as the Supply Officer. Lt. Christianson is in charge of all the logistics that keep a submarine going -- maintaining supplies, keeping spare parts moving and feeding the crew -- hard at work, 24 hours a day. She has already completed one full deployment on OHIO and is the first woman to qualify Diving Officer of the Watch (DOOW).

And Ensign Megan Bittner, a native of Norfolk, Virginia and a 2010 graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering, is assigned as the Electrical Assistant in USS OHIO. Since reporting onboard OHIO, Ensign Bittner quickly qualified Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW) and also stood watch as Junior Officer of the Watch and Junior Officer of the Deck (surfaced and submerged). These are important roles in maneuvering the submarine while it transits in and out of port, and while it is submerged under water -- no small feat as the USS OHIO is nearly 2 football fields long.

Several women among the group are married. Lieutenant Junior Grade Tabitha Strobel is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Originally from Bowie, Maryland, she is assigned to the Guided Missile Submarine USS GEORGIA and has already deployed once. Tabitha is married to Lieutenant Junior Grade William Strobel of Elburn, Illinois, also a Naval Academy graduate and assigned to the Ballistic Missile Submarine USS WYOMING.

Serving aboard a submarine is no easy life, and these talented young women could have chosen more simple paths. But these women are special – they are deeply dedicated and are already charting a new course for women to serve in the world's greatest Submarine Force.

Brad Cooper is the Executive Director of Joining Forces. Learn more about the Joining Forces initiative: Visit JoiningForces.gov, like Joining Forces on Facebook and follow @JoiningForces on Twitter.

President Obama Adds Historic Focus on Women’s Rights at G-8 and NATO Summits

Tina Tchen — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:39:56 +0000

This week, under President Obama’s leadership, the Group of 8 (G-8) and NATO each made history by placing women’s rights squarely on the agenda. Recognizing women as drivers of economic growth and as essential actors for strengthening global peace and security, G-8 and NATO leaders not only put efforts to protect women’s rights and advance women’s participation front and center, but also recognized women as agents of change, and committed their countries to expanding efforts to empower women worldwide.

President Obama first invited fellow G-8 leaders to Camp David for talks on a wide range of economic, political and security issues. The President then welcomed NATO allies and partners to his hometown of Chicago for the NATO Summit, where leaders took steps to build the NATO-Afghanistan partnership while responsibly ending the war, and ensure that NATO remains the most successful alliance in history. At each of these events, world leaders also discussed the importance of ensuring protection for women’s rights and the full participation of women in countries experiencing political transition.

President Obama introduced the topic of women’s rights at the G-8 leader’s dinner on May18th, and in his remarks the next morning described the outcome of that conversation:

We agreed that both, when it comes to economic development and when it comes to peace and security issues, empowering women to have a seat at the table and get more engaged and more involved in these processes can be extraordinarily fruitful. And this is something that we will also be introducing during the G20.

The G-8 leader’s declaration affirmed the President’s message:

We recognize that according women full and equal rights and opportunities is crucial for all countries’ political stability, democratic governance, and economic growth. We reaffirm our commitment to advance human rights of and opportunities for women, leading to more development, poverty reduction, conflict prevention and resolution, and improved maternal health and reduced child mortality. We also commit to supporting the right of all people, including women, to freedom of religion in safety and security. We are concerned about the reduction of women’s political participation and the placing at risk of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including in Middle East and North Africa countries emerging from conflict or undergoing political transitions. We condemn and avow to stop violence directed against, including the trafficking of, women and girls. We call upon all states to protect human rights of women and to promote women’s roles in economic development and in strengthening international peace and security.

Two days later, the NATO Chicago Summit Declaration focused on the role of women in peace building, conflict prevention, and in preventing gender-based violence, echoing the United States’ first-ever National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security:

Widespread sexual and gender-based violence in conflict situations, the lack of effective institutional arrangements to protect women, and the continued under-representation of women in peace processes, remain serious impediments to building sustainable peace. We remain committed to the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and related Resolutions which are aimed at protecting and promoting women’s rights, role, and participation in preventing and ending conflict. In line with the NATO/Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Policy, the Alliance, together with its partners, has made significant progress in implementing the goals articulated in these Resolutions. In this regard, we have today endorsed a Strategic Progress Report on mainstreaming UNSCR 1325 and related Resolutions into NATO-led Operations and Missions, and welcomed Norway’s generous offer to provide a NATO Special Representative for these important issues. In this context, and to further advance this work, we have tasked the Council to: continue implementing the Policy and the Action Plan; undertake a review of the practical implications of UNSCR 1325 for the conduct of NATO operations and missions; further integrate gender perspectives into Alliance activities; and submit a report for our next Summit.

Over the past year, we have seen a groundswell of recognition of the critical importance of women’s political and economic empowerment around the world. Last year at the UN General Assembly, President Obama challenged us all “to break down economic and political barriers that stop women and girls from reaching their full potential,” and we are now developing a new initiative to advance this agenda. In November 2011, under U.S. leadership we saw new emphasis placed on women’s economic empowerment in the APEC Women and the Economy Summit declaration and the APEC Leaders Declaration. President Obama also highlighted the importance of women entrepreneurs at the Summit of the Americas in April 2012. In each of these forums, the United States is working with its international partners to create the change necessary for greater shared prosperity and security -- a goal for which we can all be proud.

Tina Tchen is the Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls

Join the Conversation: #VetsTownHall

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:05:46 +0000

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from Work in Progress

Join the Department of Labor (DOL) for a Women Veterans Twitter Town Hall on Tuesday, May 22 at 12 pm EDT.

You’ll have the chance to ask questions about resources and services available to women veterans as they return home from active duty. Officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will take part in the discussion, as well as special guests from John 14:2, Inc., Women Veterans Interactive, and Business and Professional Women’s Foundation.

During the chat, DOL will discuss the department’s efforts to assist servicewomen with the resources necessary to successfully reintegrate back into civilian life. Below are some additional topics that we can cover Tuesday via the hashtag #VetsTownHall:

Department of Labor (@USDOL):

Send the Women’s Bureau questions about the “Trauma-Informed Care for Women Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: A Guide for Service Providers,” an organizational self-assessment tool for service providers to assist them in serving women veterans. Latifa Lyles, acting director of the Women’s Bureau, will be on Twitter to answer questions about what her agency is doing to assist women veterans experiencing homelessness with community based resources.
Turn to Junior Ortiz, DOL’s deputy assistant secretary for veterans’ employment and training. You’ll have the chance to ask him about resources to assist and prepare women veterans to obtain meaningful careers, maximize their employment opportunities, and protect their employment rights.
Chat with Pamela Langley, DOL VETS division chief for employment and training programs and a veteran who recently returned from Afghanistan. She’ll join the conversation to answer your questions about where to go for assistance in looking for a new career and how to convert your military experience into civilian jobs.
Ask DOL’s Gerri Fiala, deputy assistant secretary for employment and training, questions about the Employment and Training Administration’s veterans’ programs and initiatives, such as the Gold Card, priority of service, and pilot with Microsoft to provide training for veterans.

Department of Veterans Affairs: (@DeptVetAffairs):

Tweet the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Mary Santiago, director of the Veteran Employment Services Office to learn about VA for VETS online resources and one-on-one coaching services to recruit, retain and reintegrate talented veterans to the federal government. She can tell you about the VA for VETS hiring fair in Detroit for veterans looking for careers in the public and private sectors.
Chat with Dr. Sally Haskell, acting director of VA’s Comprehensive Women’s Health, Dr. Mary Schohn, acting director of Mental Health Operations, and Dr. Susan McCutcheon, national director for Family Services, Women’s Mental Health and Military Sexual Trauma. They’ll be available to answer questions about women veteran’s mental health care, screening and treatment for experience of MST and family services.
Check in VA’s Dr. Irene Trowell-Harris, director of the Center for Women Veterans, to learn about their mission and role in monitoring and coordinating health care, benefits services and programs for women veterans.
Ask VA’s Homeless Veterans Initiative Office Dr. Susan Angell, special assistant of the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs about housing and prevention efforts that assist women veterans.

Special Guests:

Chat with John 14:2, Inc., Women Veterans Interactive Founder and CEO Ginger Miller (@womenvetsaction). She’ll join the conversation to answer your questions about support services, housing options, advocacy and outreach for women veterans and their families.
Tweet the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation Mentoring Liaison Joan Grey (@BPWF4WomenVets) to learn how career mentoring can help women veterans get a boost in the job market by helping them find suitable employment and advance in their careers.

Tweet us before and during the event using the hashtag #VetsTownHall. You can also send us your questions by e-mail to womensbureaunetwork@dol.gov before Monday, May 21 at 3 pm EDT.

Starting at 12 pm EDT on May 22, we’ll be live to answer questions submitted both before and during the event.

We look forward to tweeting you!

Deputy Secretary Blank Advocates Public Service in Commencement Speech

Rebecca Blank — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:47:57 +0000

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from Commerce.gov

This morning, I had the privilege of delivering the commencement address to graduate students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) commencement ceremony.

I was also deeply honored to receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service during the ceremony for my work as a public servant, including the leadership I provided in my previous job at Commerce, overseeing the nation’s premier statistical agencies, the Census Bureau (during the 2010 Census) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The commencement speech provided an opportunity to give advice to the graduate students and to encourage them to use their expertise and experience to find solutions to the pressing problems facing our world. UMBC is particularly well-known for its scientific training. Science, technology, engineering and math–STEM fields–are particularly important, and it is STEM-related research that will drive innovation in the years ahead. In fact, STEM jobs have grown three times faster than other jobs, indicating the need for more workers with these skills.STEM jobs are not just for graduates with advanced degrees: about one-third of STEM jobs are available to workers who do not have college degrees, but who have post-high school training and certification.

But in the U.S., only about 13 percent of college graduates finish school with a STEM degree, compared to 25 percent of college graduates in other countries, like Germany. That’s why the President’s 2013 budget invests $3 billion across the federal government in programs that promote STEM education, a three percent increase. In particular, we need to focus on creating more paths for women and minorities to get STEM degrees. And we need to make sure that we keep the talent already here, by “stapling” green cards to the STEM degrees of foreign students who come to the U.S., get a world-class education, and receive job offers which will help our companies drive innovation.

I also talked about the need for students to find ways to "give back" as they move through their careers. I care a great deal about public service and am proud to work in the federal government. More than ever before, government needs well-trained and effective workers. At Commerce, we do a wide variety of things that serve both businesses and consumers: We promote U.S. exports. We issue patents for new inventions. We oversee the Census, the National Weather Service, and cutting-edge labs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

We have close to 45,000 employees, and I am impressed every day with their dedication to their work. Many of them have multiple job options outside government, but they choose to work inside government because – among other things – they believe that government helps people and they want to make sure it works effectively.

And there are success stories every day. In fact, just yesterday, Commerce Secretary John Bryson had the opportunity to recognize 41 U.S. companies and organizations that have made significant contributions to increasing American exports. Receiving the President’s “E” Awards, these organizations, 35 of which were small or medium-sized enterprises, contribute to the President’s National Export Initiative (NEI) goal of doubling U.S. exports in order to support American jobs.

Whether their degrees are in science, public policy or communications, I encouraged those who feel a calling toward public service to consider their options in government. I congratulate this year’s graduates at UMBC and hope that they will find ways to make the world just a little better place through their work and their careers.

Rebecca M. Blank is the Deputy Secretary of Commerce

Just Plain Wrong: House Republican Bill Undermines the Violence Against Women Act

Valerie Jarrett — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:02:18 +0000

The passage of the Violence Against Women Act nearly two decades ago was an historic moment for America's women and girls. The law gave women new legal protections that help ensure their safety.

Last month, Democratic and Republican Senators came together to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The bill they approved would address the high rates of domestic violence committed against Native American women, ensure that LGBT victims have access to services, and make college campuses safer places to live and study.

This is in keeping with the tradition of the Violence Against Women Act, which puts women's safety above partisan politics. Through its bipartisan vote, the Senate not only acted to preserve the original bill -- they improved it, protecting even more women from violence and abuse.

Read the full post at The Huffington Post

Valerie Jarrett is Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement

STEM Women All-Stars Hit the Road

Lauren Andersen — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:43:15 +0000

Girls in Santa Barbara, CA take a break from learning about oceanography during a visit with Dr. Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Photo Courtesy of NOAA)

Last week, at the release of the White House Girls in STEM video, some of the Nation’s top women scientists and engineers took a break from their daily responsibilities at the heights of Federal, private, and academic science and technology enterprises to urge girls to open their minds to careers in these fields. Their voices joined a chorus of women across the country who are making it part of their mission to inspire students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Over the past few months, students from Santa Barbara, California to Miami, Florida have played hosts to some unusual substitute teachers, as senior women scientists and engineers from the highest levels of the Obama Administration hit the road as part of the Women in STEM Speakers Bureau roundtable series.

Designed to spark the interest of middle and high-school girls in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects, the Women in STEM Speakers Bureau was launched by the White House Council on Women and Girls and Office of Science and Technology Policy in September of last year. Over the past seven months, outstanding STEM rolemodels from nine Federal agencies have signed on to participate in the program, inspiring girls and boys alike with their own personal stories and insights.

In Santa Barbara this past March, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, wowed Girls, Inc students with not only her tales of becoming the first woman to serve in that post, but also with props and squid!

Dr. Jane Lubchenco demonstrates an ocean explorer’s toolkit to students in Santa Barbara, CA. (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

Similarly, Dr. Karina Edmonds, Technology Transfer Coordinator at the US Deparment of Energy, traveled to both Austin, TX and San Francisco, CA to share her story of how, as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, she pursued her interest in mechanical engineering to become the first full-time staffer ever appointed to her current position.

Karina Edmonds, Technology Transfer Coordinator for the Department of Energy, meets with girls from the University of San Francisco Upward Bound Math and Science Program. (Photo courtesy of USF Upward Bound Math and Science Program)

These recent appearances complemented many previous roundtables, like Dr. Elisabeth Hagen’s (Undersecretary for Food Safety at the US Department of Agriculture) visit to Harrisburg, PA in January – a trip that began a groundswell of enthusiasm ending in a modest grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to fund Saturday Girls STEM Acadmies in the area – or Dr. Cora Marrett, Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation’s events in St. Louis and Jackson, MS.

Collectively, these roundtables open up possibilities to students that may have never considered critical careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

But these women are not lone sources of inspiration– parents, teachers, professionals, researchers, and other enthusiasts can encourage girls to stretch their interests and pursue paths in which today, they are sorely underrepresented. Sites like MentorNet and FabFems aim to make being a STEM role model easy. Let’s maintain momentum and ring in next year’s women’s history month, with a year of inspiring girls in these exciting fields.

For more information on the Women in STEM Roundtable, or other Administration efforts to increase the participation of women and girls in STEM, please visit www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/women.

Dr. Cora Marrett, Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation, learns about a student’s project in St. Louis. (Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri)

Lauren Andersen is a Policy Advisor in the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Watch and Engage: Girls in STEM

Ari Isaacman Astles — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:22:05 +0000

Women and girls continue to be significantly underrepresented in the STEM fields – a trend that starts early and comes at a serious cost to both the career prospects of our young women and the success of our economy. By ensuring women and girls receive the exposure, encouragement, and support they need to enter and succeed in STEM fields, this country can benefit from the full range and diversity of its talent.

The White House Council on Women and Girls is excited to announce a White House event that features a panel of trailblazing women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields who will share their experiences and encourage young women to follow in their footsteps – or blaze a trail of their own. Watch the event live at www.wh.gov/live tomorrow, Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 10:30am ET. During the event, panelists will answer questions from a live audience and also take questions submitted online. Ask your questions here or on Twitter using the hashtag #GirlsInSTEM.

This event will also include the very first public screening of “Girls in STEM,” a video on girls in STEM, featuring footage from girls who participated in the 2012 White House Science Fair.

Event Agenda:

10:30-10:35am: Remarks by EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
10:35-10:45am: Premiere of “Girls in STEM” video, featuring girls who participated in the 2012 White House Science Fair
10:45-11:30am: Panel on Women and Girls in STEM moderated by Administrator Jackson and featuring the following panelists:
- Dr. Cady Coleman, NASA Astronaut, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, retired
- Jocelyn Goldfein, Director of Engineering, Facebook
- Dr. Jean Hernandez, President, Edmonds Community College
- Bianca Bailey, President, Howard University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders

The White House is committed to proving opportunities for all students to engage in STEM. Below is a photograph from the second White House Science Fair that recognized achievements in STEM from across the country.

President Barack Obama hosts the second White House Science Fair celebrating the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country. The President talked with Samantha Garvey, 18, of Bay Shore, N.Y., about her environmental sciences project examining the effect of physical environment and predators on a specific species of mussel, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Feb. 7, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Commerce Deputy Secretary Blank Speaks on the Role of Innovation in the U.S. Economy

Rebecca Blank — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:00:16 +0000

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from Commerce.gov

I recently had the honor of addressing an annual conference on innovation, sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of how the economy works. Today’s event, entitled “Innovation Policy and the Economy,” provided an opportunity to discuss one of the most important contributors to America’s long-term competitiveness: innovation.

America’s entrepreneurs, businesses, and workers are the primary source of new ideas that drive innovation. Patents, trademarks, and copyrights – the main protections in our intellectual property (IP) system – are critical tools that help commercialize game-changing ideas. By creating a better environment for our private sector to capitalize on those ideas, IP protections help foster the innovation and creativity that lead to a stronger economy and the creation of more, good-paying jobs. Last week, I helped release a report co-produced with my colleagues in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the role of IP in the economy. The report shows that nearly 35 percent of our GDP – more than $5 trillion – comes from IP-intensive industries. We also found that IP-intensive industries support a total of about 40 million jobs. These findings demonstrate that IP protections aren’t just important for businesses and entrepreneurs; they are important for working families. Clearly, making sure that we adequately protect intellectual property is vital to maintaining America’s competitive edge and driving our overall prosperity.

But while private citizens and businesses are the primary source of new ideas, the government plays a key role in the effort to support innovation. At the Commerce Department, we work to support innovation and protect intellectual property on many fronts, including through the implementation of the America Invents Act, which is designed to modernize and streamline the U.S. patent process.

The U.S. government also has a proud tradition of supporting the work of federal and university labs in conducting basic research and development, which is key to generating new ideas that historically have helped shape and change the world as we know it. If you look at some of the most important recent new technologies – from flat-panel displays to semiconductors to wireless ultrasound for rural healthcare – they were deeply reliant, at an early stage, on research funded by wisely-spent tax dollars. President Obama is working to double government dollars in basic R&D support at several key agencies.

Innovation is key to economic growth and productivity. Since the 1940s, two-thirds of our economic growth is due to growing productivity that results from innovation. Just yesterday, our Chief Economist, Mark Doms, announced that retail sales had increased 0.8 percent in March following multiple consecutive months of gains. Many of these sales result from consumers’ desire to buy new and innovative products.

Today, along with the rest of the administration, we are also marking National Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into this year women must work to match what men earned in the previous year. President Obama is committed to securing equal pay for equal work. Working women are at the heart of an America built to last. Equal pay will strengthen our families, grow our economy, and enable the best ideas and boldest innovations to flourish – regardless of the innovator's gender. Only with policies that support innovation can we build the basis for a 21st century economy that allows American businesses to flourish in an increasingly competitive global market.

Securing Equal Pay

Cecilia Muñoz — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:25:26 +0000

Today – Tuesday, April 17 – is Equal Pay Day, which marks the fact that, nearly 50 years since President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the average woman still has to work well into the calendar year to earn what the average man earned last year. According to the latest U.S. Census statistics, on average, full-time working women earned 77 cents to every dollar earned by men, and the gap is significantly more for women of color. This substantial gap is more than a mere statistic. It has real-life consequences. Women, who compose nearly half of the workforce, are bringing home 23 percent less than their male counterparts – which means less for families’ everyday needs, less for investments in our children’s futures, and, when added up over a lifetime of work, substantially less for retirement.

President Obama understands how much this issue impacts our nation’s economic well-being, and that’s why, from his earliest days in office, he has been committed to closing the pay gap. Today, in conjunction with Equal Pay Day, we are proud to announce the following additional initiatives:

First, the White House released the Equal Pay Task Force Accomplishments Report: Fighting for Fair Pay in the Workplace. The Equal Pay Task Force (“Task Force”), which the President established in 2010, brings together the best expertise of professionals at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor and the Office of Personnel Management, who work daily to combat pay discrimination in the workplace. Since the Task Force’s creation, enforcement actions have increased; the government has recovered unprecedented monetary recoveries for women seeking their fair share for performing the same work as men; and investments in outreach to both employers and employees are paying big dividends. The report details the significant progress that the Task Force has made to fight pay discrimination – including improving inter-agency coordination and collaboration to ensure that the full weight of the federal government is focused on closing the gender pay gap once and for all. I commend the professionals who represent the member agencies on the Task Force for the extraordinary work they and their teams undertake each day to realize the President’s directive.
Second, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the winners of the “Equal Pay App Challenge.” In January of this year, the Department of Labor, in conjunction with the Equal Pay Task Force, launched this challenge – inviting software developers to use publicly available data and resources to create applications that provide greater access to pay data organized by gender, race, and ethnicity; provide interactive tools for early career coaching or online mentoring; or provide data to help inform pay negotiations. A solution to the pay gap has been elusive, in part because access to basic information – e.g., typical salary ranges and skill level requirements for particular positions, advice on how to negotiate appropriate pay – is limited. Because of the enthusiastic response to the “Equal Pay App Challenge” and the creative apps that were developed, anyone with a smartphone, tablet or computer can access answers to these basic, but important, questions. This challenge represents just one more way that women can empower themselves with the tools they need to make sure they get equal pay for equal work.
Finally, in our ongoing effort to educate employees and employers about their rights and responsibilities under our nation’s equal pay laws, the Department of Labor today published two brochures that will educate employees regarding their rights under the existing equal pay laws and enable employers to understand their obligations.

Today’s actions build on progress already underway by this Administration in the fight for equal pay. The very first bill that President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which extended the time period in which claimants can bring pay discrimination claims and, in the process, enabled countless victims of pay discrimination to seek redress where they previously could not. In 2010, the President pledged to crack down on violations of equal pay laws and, that same year, established the Task Force. And in his 2012 State of the Union address, the President unequivocally reaffirmed his commitment to securing equal pay for equal work when he said, “. . . an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women should earn equal pay for equal work.” Under the President’s leadership, this Administration has made significant progress to bridge the gender pay gap, but our work is far from complete. When every woman gets the pay that she deserves – equal pay for equal work – families flourish, communities thrive, and our nation prospers. It’s a matter of fair play, and we must do all that we can to make it right.