Today, on Small Business Saturday, we celebrate the contributions of small businesses to our country and our communities – and we encourage everyone to make a visit to a small business as part of their holiday shopping. It is well worth it. For the last eight years, I have had the honor of working with small business owners across the United States and have seen firsthand as they turn their dreams into engines of our economy and essential parts of our communities.
There’s plenty of reason for celebration today.
Through hard work and talent, small business owners have grown and created opportunity for Americans from coast to coast, contributing to the more than 15 million private-sector jobs created since early 2010.
Small business owners have helped to lead the way with higher minimum wages and pay — recognizing that when employees have the support they need to thrive, so do their businesses.
Under President Obama, small businesses have played a greater role than ever before in supporting the work of the federal government. In Fiscal Year 2015, for instance, we awarded an all-time high of more than a quarter of eligible federal contracts to small businesses, and we made great strides in ensuring more government contracts are given to women-owned small businesses — nearly $18 billion worth.
Perhaps most importantly, small businesses are the backbone of our communities. Small business owners don’t just employ our neighbors; more often than not, they live alongside us, too. They support our Little League teams, our schools, our houses of worship, and our charities. And they provide the essential character of towns and cities across America.
Dreams do not often materialize easily. It takes persistence, determination, and the ability to bounce back quickly from failure. Yet every day, small business owners across the United States defy the odds — never giving up, trusting their instincts, and following their dreams relentlessly. And we are all better for it.
So today, please join me in supporting a small business in your community — and saying thank you to all the men and women who have taken the leap of faith to realize their own entrepreneurial dreams.
Watch the White House National Disability Employment Awareness Month Event live.
Today, the White House will host its final National Disability Employment Awareness Month event and celebrate the strides we have made to create a more inclusive federal workforce. Ahead of this event, I’m proud to announce important progress toward that effort.
In 2010, President Obama challenged the federal government to hire 100,000 people with disabilities within five years. Not only did we reach the goal between 2011 and 2015, we surpassed it. Since then, the federal government has hired more than 154,000 permanent and temporary employees with disabilities, and more than 109,000 of whom are permanent hires.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of leadership, managers, and staff in agencies big and small to commit to inclusive recruitment, hiring, and retention practices, there are now more people with disabilities in the federal workforce than at any time in the past 35 years. This shows what government can do when agencies come together to make sure that everyone in our country has a fair shot — not only to achieve their dreams, but to serve the country we all love.
Everyone benefits when our government reflects the full talents and diversity of the American people, so the fulfillment of the President’s goals marks an important step forward.
With that said, it is just one step toward creating a truly inclusive workforce that represents the American people.
We must all continue to work together — the federal government, and state and local governments, together with the private and not for profit sectors — to ensure that the only limits to people’s success are the limits they place on themselves — not an inaccessible job posting, discriminatory hiring practices, or a lack of workplace accommodations. We have a lot more work to do, so I challenge you to take a fresh look at all of your workplace’s practices and procedures and make sure they are inclusive of working families, people with criminal records who have earned second chances, and others who experience barriers to employment.
The kind of progress we want to see starts with us.
Watch President Obama speak at a White House reception for the Museum of African American History & Culture at 4:20 pm ET.
Tomorrow, President Obama will welcome our newest addition to the National Mall: the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, a museum dedicated to telling a fuller story of America through the history of African Americans.
As we celebrate the central role that African Americans have played in the life and history of our country, we also celebrate the African Americans whose labor and service helped shape one of the most powerful pillars of our democracy – the People’s House.
Ahead of the dedication ceremony, President Obama will deliver remarks at a White House reception for the museum’s opening. Here’s a look at some of what guests who are attending the reception will see as they walk through the residence and experience the African American history of the White House.
The Slaves and Servants Who Built and Served the White House
The White House was built by slaves. Some of the slaves’ names were Peter, Tom, Ben, and Harry, some were skilled carpenters, and two of them were enslaved to the chief architect of the White House, James Hoban.
The Diplomatic Reception Room was known as the “Servant’s Hall,” where African American slaves and servants lived. One of the most well-known slaves who worked under President James Madison was Paul Jennings, who wrote an early White House memoir and was involved in an 1848 plan to undertake a large-scale escape of slaves from Washington, D.C. aboard the schooner Pearl.
Front Seat to History
For years, the White House has recognized filmmakers and actors who have influenced American history by showcasing notable films in the Family Theater, hosting screenings at the White House, honoring recipients of the Presidential Medals of Freedom and Arts, and organizing other events featuring aspiring youth talent. President Obama has continued that tradition by honoring creative works that have brought about conversations on race and inclusion in America. From screening of Red Tails for retired Tuskegee Airmen, to honoring Sidney Poitier, to hosting panel discussions on shows that address slavery such as Roots and Underground, the White House has highlighted the importance of recognizing America’s past, no matter how dark, and how it has helped to shape our future.
Keeping the Drum Beat Going
Throughout history, the White House has hosted performances from African American artists who, through music, have expressed the full range of the American experience.
Before there was Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, Thomas Greene Bethune, also known as “Blind Tom,” was a musical prodigy and the first African American artist to have performed at the White House at the young age of 10 for President James Buchanan. Born a slave in 1849, Tom was known to have played the piano like Beethoven and Mozart and could repeat long sheet music after only hearing it once.
The Fisk Jubilee Singers — a choir from the Fisk School in Nashville, Tennessee that first opened its doors during the Civil War for former slaves — became the first African American choir to perform at the White House in 1882. One of their songs, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” was said to have moved President Chester A. Arthur to tears. The group was awarded the 2008 National Medal of Arts during the Administration of President George W. Bush.
Protect and Serve
African Americans have been an integral part of protecting our safety and that of the President of the United States. Although many who served were not recognized at the time and faced hurdles because of the color of their skin, that didn’t stop them from honorably fulfilling their duties for this nation. From the veterans who risked their lives for comrades, to the first African American members of the Armed Forces who stood alone amongst a regiment of all white soldiers, to the slaves who fought for the promise of equality, to the Secret Service members whose sacrifice often went unrecognized, these heroes believed in a brighter future even when the odds were stacked against them.
A list of African American Medal of Honor recipients is on display in the new Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture.
Historic Meetings
An invitation to the White House has held both symbolic power and a platform to voice the American experience.
Presidential Appointments
The quiet sacrifices White House staff members have made in service of our country often reached beyond the long hours and high demands of their jobs. In face of the challenges they faced, their perseverance to show up every day to work and see their contribution as part of a vision larger than themselves paved the way for change.
“The Butler”
African American butlers and housekeepers have served the White House for decades. Their dedication and resilience behind the scenes inevitably empowered others, as portrayed in Lee Daniels’ film adaptation of the experience of African American butlers in the White House.
BLOCK QUOTE: “The most memorable moment I had at the White House is seeing my mother walk up North Portico, all alone, to visit me and George and Barbara Bush in their personal quarters…She was so nervous, but enjoyed herself. I said to myself well, my mother is just as important as all those kings and queens. I’m going to have my queen do it.” – Former White House Butler George Hannie
“Scripture tells us that in our sufferings there is glory, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
I have hope, because in recent days, we have been flooded by requests from Americans asking how they can help and be part of the solution. People want to know what we all can do in our day-to-day lives to take on our challenges and maintain the unity brought by grief. Is there anything more American than that – ordinary citizens from every corner of the country asking what they can do in their community? As the President said yesterday, that’s the America I know – an America that’s never seen a problem it can’t solve. We’re excited to respond, and offer a few ways that we all can get to work building bridges and solving problems.
Earlier today, the President brought together law enforcement officials, civil rights leaders, activists, faith leaders, academics, and state and local elected officials to discuss these challenges and how we can all take steps together to build trust and ensure justice for all Americans.
And on Thursday night, we’ll keep the conversation going about the challenges we face – from racial inequality to how we build trust in our communities. President Obama will host a town hall that will air on ABC, ESPN, and Freeform, and where he’ll hear from officers, parents, students, and families affected by the violence of recent weeks. Participants will raise important questions, search for answers together, and most critically, seek to understand the different realities each of us face. We will all be able to learn a lot from their example.
The conversation and work must continue after the town hall – and there are a number of things that YOU can do to answer the question we’ve heard so often: “How can I help?”
First, take back to your community a set of common-sense and straightforward steps that you can take, right now, to make a difference. There are some solutions outlined by the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. These are central to rebuilding trust in communities and are steps that anyone can take. Discuss them with your family, your community, your police department, and local officials. We can honor the courage of our police officers and see the truth of our criminal justice system’s racial inequities – and these solutions are a critical part of that work.
Second,become a mentor. Talent is ubiquitous, but opportunity is not. A huge part of our shared work is ensuring that every young person in America knows that as a country, we believe in them. They’re our kids – and their futures are our future. Mentoring can be a life-changing experience – for everyone involved – and we hope you’ll take a look.
Third, keep the town hall’s conversation going in your community to build bonds with new people, seek out new viewpoints, andshare your stories and examples. Get out of your own comfort zone, seek new viewpoints, and as the President has said, “Listen. Engage. If the other side has a point, learn from them.” It’s too easy to be drawn back into our own corners, far away from the challenge of someone else’s reality.
But as the President also said yesterday in Dallas, the work of healing these divisions requires that we open our hearts to each other, and “see in each other a common humanity, a shared dignity, and recognize how our different experiences have shaped us.”
We hope you’ll tune in Thursday evening with an open mind, and bring back ideas to your community. This is going to take all of us.
In times of tragedy, all too often fear prevails as hope fades and our hearts drown in sorrow. This is the cyclical trend of hopelessness brought on by our nation’s epidemic of senseless gun violence. Each time one life is lost, we as a nation lose a piece of ourselves. That tragic evening a year ago in Charleston at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Church was no different. But instead of sorrow, the community responded to wicked violent murders with “amazing grace” as President Obama said at Rev Clementa Pickney’s funeral. Let’s never forget those nine victims who welcomed a stranger into their church with open arms. Let’s never forget their families, resilience, courage, strength, faith, and love – even toward the perpetrator.
Let’s never forget how our American community came together to support our brothers and sisters in Charleston. As a nation, we cried for their suffering, honored their lives, and as President Obama noted, challenged ourselves, even in the midst of our sadness, “To see where we’ve been blind.” We came together to make clear how the Confederate flag has been a “reminder of systematic oppression and racial subjugation.” We were reminded of how gun violence inflicts a “unique mayhem” on our nation. The tragedy spotlighted how past injustices continue to shape our present actions. And the encouraging call of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to take down the Confederate flag from the state’s capitol was part of an incredible moment of national unity.
As the President noted, Reverend Pinckney understood that “justice grows out of recognition of ourselves in each other. That my liberty depends on you being free, too. That history can’t be a sword to justify injustice, or a shield against progress, but must be a manual for how to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past — how to break the cycle. A roadway toward a better world. He knew that the path of grace involves an open mind — but, more importantly, an open heart.”
Let’s never forget the legacy of those lives lost, those injured, and those affected by this day. Please remember them in our thoughts, our prayers — but also remember them with our actions. We cannot turn away from the fact that the worst mass shooting in our history took place just five days ago or that approximately 30,000 lives each year are cut short by gun violence in this country, and that countless more lives are forever changed through injuries or the loss of a loved one.
The vast majority of Americans and the majority of gun owners want to do something about this. They too feel the fierce urgency of now — understanding that it is not the time to give up the fight to end senseless gun violence.
I still believe that we as a nation can find that amazing grace President Obama spoke about that day to do what we know to be right.
Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett sent the below message to the White House email list to invite people to join in the first United State of Women Summit. Didn’t get the message? Sign up for updates here.
Here’s why we’re talking about the #StateofWomen today:
Women are increasingly serving as leaders throughout industry, civil society, and government — but we know that we cannot rest until we tackle the critical issues that still prevent women and girls from reaching their true potential.
That’s the whole idea behind today’s main event: The United State of Women Summit in Washington, D.C., a large-scale effort to celebrate our great strides toward equality while addressing the challenges that remain.
We’re bringing together experts, advocates, grassroots organizers, and business leaders on issues that affect women and girls, including special guests like Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Shonda Rhimes, and Connie Britton.
You can watch events from throughout the day, from President Obama’s remarks, to the Vice President’s remarks, to First Lady Michelle Obama’s conversation with Oprah Winfrey.
You’ll also hear from extraordinary women and men who are sharing their stories and ideas for the future, including Amy Poehler of Parks and Recreation, Kerry Washington of Scandal, Reshma Saujani of Girls Who Code, and many more.
We’ll have digital Q&As and conversations with Summit participants happening all day on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and more — so be sure to join us online using the hashtag #StateofWomen.
Hope you’re excited for what is sure to be a fascinating and inspiring day — I know I am.
Thanks for all you do,
Valerie
Valerie Jarrett
Senior Advisor
The White House @vj44
Every single year, more than 30,000 Americans have their lives cut short by guns. Whether it is from suicide, domestic violence, a gang shootout, or an accident, too many Americans have lost loved ones, including too many precious children. Many have had to learn to live with a disability, or help a loved one do what was once effortless.
That’s why in January, President Obama outlined a number of new, commonsense steps that his Administration is taking to protect our children and communities from gun violence. Today, we are announcing important progress in implementing those steps.
First, smart gun technology. A significant number of gun deaths occur every year because someone other than the gun’s owner was handling it – whether it’s a child who finds a gun at home and shoots it accidentally, or the criminals who obtain stolen or trafficked firearms. So the President took action to boost the development of smart gun and gun safety technology that can prevent these deaths from happening.
“If we can set it up so you can’t unlock your phone unless you’ve got the right fingerprint, why can’t we do the same thing for our guns? If a child can’t open a bottle of aspirin, we should make sure that they can’t pull a trigger on a gun.”
President Obama
He then issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the Departments of Defense (DOD), Homeland Security (DHS), and Justice (DOJ) to prepare a report outlining a strategy for expediting the real-world deployment of smart gun technology.
Today, those agencies are releasing that report. Here are the highlights:
DOJ and DHS have begun a process to define, for the first time, the requirements that manufacturers would need to meet for federal, state, and municipal law enforcement agencies to consider purchasing firearms with enhanced safety technology. They’ve committed to completing that process by October, and will also identify agencies interested in taking part in a pilot program to develop the technology.
DOD will continue to help manufacturers test “smart” firearms under real-world conditions at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland. Manufacturers may be eligible to win cash prizes through this program as well.
The Federal Government stands ready to assist state and local governments as smart gun technology continues to be developed. In the report, DOJ has indicated that state and local governments could apply certain federal grants to the purchase of new firearms, including those equipped with advanced safety technology.
Together, these actions have the potential to jumpstart the development of proven gun safety technologies that can save lives and preserve the effectiveness of our firearms. There is no problem that America’s innovators cannot solve, and we are confident that by focusing the private sector’s attention on smart gun technology, we will unlock life-saving innovations.
Even apart from the steps announced by President Obama earlier this year, including additional efforts to promote smart gun technology, DOJ’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) will continue to support a broad range of research to better understand gun violence in our country. For example, NIJ has indicated that it anticipates awarding up to $3 million to support investigator-initiated research to “strengthen our knowledge base and improve public safety by producing findings with practical implications for reducing firearms violence.” As in so many other areas of life, this important research and science can help keep us all safe.
Second, mental illness. In January, the President called for a new $500 million investment in mental health treatment and underscored the increased mental health coverage that the Affordable Care Act has made possible. While recognizing that individuals with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators, he also made clear that we do need to do a better job of ensuring that those who are already prohibited by law from buying a gun cannot obtain one.
“We’re going to ensure that federal mental health records are submitted to the background check system, and remove barriers that prevent states from reporting relevant information.”
President Obama
Today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is moving forward with one important aspect of those efforts by publishing a proposed rule to help ensure appropriate information in its records is reported to the background check system about individuals prohibited from buying a gun. The rule would also provide a way for people to seek relief from the federal prohibition on possessing a firearm for reasons related to mental health. This is just the first step in the rulemaking process. Once the rule publishes in the Federal Register, the public has 60 days to comment on the proposal to ensure SSA can incorporate feedback from a broad range of stakeholders before finalizing the rule.
Third, engagement with state and local leaders. I’m proud to announce that in May, the White House will host a 50-State Gun Violence Prevention Convening. We will bring together state and local elected officials, including governors, attorneys general, state legislators, and city and county officials, who have been leaders in the fight to save lives from gun violence. The agenda will focus on state and local efforts to prevent gun violence through legislative and executive actions, including those focused on reducing gun violence in domestic abuse incidents and furthering research and development of smart gun technologies. Participants will also have an opportunity to discuss ways states can improve their reporting to the background check system, particularly in light of new data recently released by DOJ about the number of records each state has submitted to a key national database.
We will never be able to stop every form of violence, but when we can take action to save even one life, we owe it to every American to do so. That’s why the President has been so committed to doing everything within his authority to keep our country safe – and why he will continue to call on Congress to pass the kind of commonsense reforms supported by the vast majority of the American people. The actions the Administration takes will help make our communities safer and keep more guns out of the hands of folks who shouldn’t have them. That is just common sense.
Our country is transforming as we become both older and more diverse every day. Every day for the next 15 years, thousands of Americans will reach retirement age at a pace so that, by 2030, there will be more than twice as many older Americans as there were at the turn of the century.
As our population changes, we have a collective responsibility to make sure older Americans can both take advantage of the opportunities of their golden years and overcome the barriers that aging can create. That’s why President Obama was so proud to sign a reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, a bill he had called on Congress to pass since last summer’s White House Conference on Aging. As the President said then:
We’re going to work with Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act because we know it will provide critical support to families and communities.
President Obama
The President believes in the Older Americans Act because it funds services that are central to older adults’ health and lasting independence, such as meals, job training, transportation, and health promotion. And for those who do need consistent care, the law provides nursing home protections and enhances the Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs.
The reauthorization of the Older Americans Act is just the latest example of our work to ensure older Americans can live the lives they want, with the people they choose. The Administration was the first to invest in elder justice and the prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults. The Federal Government is now leading in establishing national guidelines, creating a common vocabulary across states, and developing a framework for sharing best practices and collecting data.
The Department of Health and Human Services created Aging.gov to provide a one-stop shop for Americans looking for information about services and support. The Department of Housing and Urban Development released a guide to help older homeowners, families, and caregivers make changes to their homes so that older adults can remain safe and independent. We have also led the way in making investments across government on healthy aging and into research on conditions such as Alzheimer’s. And we will continue to fight to preserve and strengthen Social Security and Medicare.
The simple truth is that aging affects us all. A part of our nation’s social contract is the promise we make to older generations of Americans who will leave behind a brighter future for us all to enjoy. It is a promise we make to our elders so that as we work to leave our indelible stamp on America, in our time, our children and grandchildren will keep that promise with us. That fidelity to one another is central to who we are. Those are American values. They are part of why the Older Americans Act is so important.
Today is Equal Pay Day — the day when we mark how far into the new year women have to work to earn the same as men did in the previous year.
To talk about how we can work toward giving every woman a fair shot at success, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett wrote this message to Fairygodboss, an online community of people who share a common passion for improving the workplace for women. Check it out:
We are at a pivotal moment in American history. Women are increasingly entering fields where they have been traditionally underrepresented, while standing on the shoulders of past champions for equality. We are scientists, engineers, and astronauts. We are senators, governors, and mayors. We have senior positions from the board room to the White House. We are coaches and star athletes. We are graduating from college at higher rates than men. We are role models for all of our daughters and sons.
We should be proud of our progress, yet still, disparities persist. The typical woman makes 79 cents on the dollar, as compared to our typical male colleague. Compared to the typical non-Hispanic white man, the typical African American woman makes 60 cents on the dollar, while the typical Hispanic woman makes 55 cents. Women are also less likely to start or run small businesses. We face a tougher climb up the ranks of corporate America, and tend to drop out of fields such as computer science after only a few years. And we still suffer from gender stereotypes that limit our reach beginning in early childhood.
So, on this Equal Pay Day, let’s ask what more we can all do to ensure we continue to create equal opportunities for all Americans. Inequality in the workforce doesn’t just adversely affect women; it affects our families and our broader economy. As President Obama says, “When women succeed, America succeeds.”
In his first month in office, President Obama proudly signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, making it easier for women to challenge unjust pay disparities. He has taken steps to ensure businesses report detailed data so they know when they have a pay gap in their workplaces and so we can better enforce of existing laws, and he has prohibited federal contractors from retaliating against workers who share compensation data with one another. He continues to call on Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to further protect women from wage discrimination; to pass the Healthy Families Act, which would provide seven paid sick days; and to pass legislation that provides for paid leave – because still, the United States remains the only developed country without a national paid leave policy. The President has signed Presidential Memoranda that advance six weeks of paid sick leave to all federal employees and direct agencies to expand workplace flexibility to the maximum extent practicable. He also recognizes that change must come from outside of government, so he has called on leaders from the private sector to adopt family-friendly workplace policies, including affordable child care, workplace flexibility, paid sick days, paid leave, and raising the minimum wage – factors that affect the pay gap between men and women.
So yes, we have made progress. The pay gap has narrowed slightly. Companies such as Salesforce and Gap have enacted policies to ensure men and women are treated equally, so they can thrive at home and at work.
And when Congress failed to act, the President challenged states and cities across the country to raise their minimum wage laws and create paid family or sick leave programs. So far, at least 65 cities and 18 states have responded, with New York and California the latest to join and San Francisco about to become the first American city to provide six weeks of fully paid leave for new parents.
But new laws and policies alone will not fix the problems we still face. We must continue to challenge the belief that a woman who negotiates her salary is being difficult or ungrateful, or that having a child must go hand in hand with sacrificing one’s professional aspirations. We need to constantly reinforce with our girls that they too can be whatever they want to be regardless of outdated gender norms. That they, too, can break through the glass ceiling to wherever their passions lead them.
We need to have this conversation, and we ask you to be a part of it. On May 23rd, the White House will host the Summit on the United State of Women – a daylong opportunity to take stock of the progress we have made together and the road ahead of us. In the meantime, let’s ask ourselves: How will we further the #StateOfWomen to expand opportunities and pave paths without barriers? How will you contribute to the conversation?
Thanks for your partnership, and for all the work you do to leave behind a better country for all of our daughters and sons.
Today is Equal Pay Day — the day when we mark how far into the new year women have to work to earn the same as men did in the previous year.
To talk about how we can work toward giving every woman a fair shot at success, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett wrote this message to Fairygodboss, an online community of people who share a common passion for improving the workplace for women. Check it out:
We are at a pivotal moment in American history. Women are increasingly entering fields where they have been traditionally underrepresented, while standing on the shoulders of past champions for equality. We are scientists, engineers, and astronauts. We are senators, governors, and mayors. We have senior positions from the board room to the White House. We are coaches and star athletes. We are graduating from college at higher rates than men. We are role models for all of our daughters and sons.
We should be proud of our progress, yet still, disparities persist. The typical woman makes 79 cents on the dollar, as compared to our typical male colleague. Compared to the typical non-Hispanic white man, the typical African American woman makes 60 cents on the dollar, while the typical Hispanic woman makes 55 cents. Women are also less likely to start or run small businesses. We face a tougher climb up the ranks of corporate America, and tend to drop out of fields such as computer science after only a few years. And we still suffer from gender stereotypes that limit our reach beginning in early childhood.
So, on this Equal Pay Day, let’s ask what more we can all do to ensure we continue to create equal opportunities for all Americans. Inequality in the workforce doesn’t just adversely affect women; it affects our families and our broader economy. As President Obama says, “When women succeed, America succeeds.”
In his first month in office, President Obama proudly signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, making it easier for women to challenge unjust pay disparities. He has taken steps to ensure businesses report detailed data so they know when they have a pay gap in their workplaces and so we can better enforce of existing laws, and he has prohibited federal contractors from retaliating against workers who share compensation data with one another. He continues to call on Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to further protect women from wage discrimination; to pass the Healthy Families Act, which would provide seven paid sick days; and to pass legislation that provides for paid leave – because still, the United States remains the only developed country without a national paid leave policy. The President has signed Presidential Memoranda that advance six weeks of paid sick leave to all federal employees and direct agencies to expand workplace flexibility to the maximum extent practicable. He also recognizes that change must come from outside of government, so he has called on leaders from the private sector to adopt family-friendly workplace policies, including affordable child care, workplace flexibility, paid sick days, paid leave, and raising the minimum wage – factors that affect the pay gap between men and women.
So yes, we have made progress. The pay gap has narrowed slightly. Companies such as Salesforce and Gap have enacted policies to ensure men and women are treated equally, so they can thrive at home and at work.
And when Congress failed to act, the President challenged states and cities across the country to raise their minimum wage laws and create paid family or sick leave programs. So far, at least 65 cities and 18 states have responded, with New York and California the latest to join and San Francisco about to become the first American city to provide six weeks of fully paid leave for new parents.
But new laws and policies alone will not fix the problems we still face. We must continue to challenge the belief that a woman who negotiates her salary is being difficult or ungrateful, or that having a child must go hand in hand with sacrificing one’s professional aspirations. We need to constantly reinforce with our girls that they too can be whatever they want to be regardless of outdated gender norms. That they, too, can break through the glass ceiling to wherever their passions lead them.
We need to have this conversation, and we ask you to be a part of it. On May 23rd, the White House will host the Summit on the United State of Women – a daylong opportunity to take stock of the progress we have made together and the road ahead of us. In the meantime, let’s ask ourselves: How will we further the #StateOfWomen to expand opportunities and pave paths without barriers? How will you contribute to the conversation?
Thanks for your partnership, and for all the work you do to leave behind a better country for all of our daughters and sons.
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