Women's Rights Committee

The Women's Rights Committee addresses the legal needs and rights of women on a local, state, federal and international level. In particular, the committee focuses on such important issues as reproductive rights, domestic abuse and equality in the justice system. The committee monitors legislation and offers educational programs involving women's rights.  

Recent Update

We are pleased to report that on April 28, 2011, the Board of Governors passed our Resolution Supporting Legislation To Require the Posting of Information Relating to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline in Certain Establishments ("National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Act"). The Resolution had the support of the Public Interest Section, the Criminal Justice Section, the Family Law Section and the Young Lawyers Division. A copy of the Resolution can be found at:
http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/ResApril11_1?appNum=1

Please Support Legislation to Build a National Women’s History Museum in Washington, D.C.

Legislation has been introduced in both the House (H.B. 1269) and Senate (S. 680) for the construction of The National Women’s History Museum in Washington, D.C. Co-sponsorship of this legislation has increased from 47 to 64 Representatives over the past 60 days; Pennsylvania is not a co-sponsor of this legislation.
Support the building of the Museum by signing its petition. Click here.
To contact Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., click here.
To contact Senator Patrick J. Toomey, click here.
To find and contact your Representative, click here.

Upcoming Events

• Oct. 4 (12 – 1:30 p.m.) – “The Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness: Addressing Inequities and Securing Fairness and Equal Justice in Pennsylvania's Court System” presented by Lisette M. McCormick, Esquire, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethic Fairness, and Lynn A. Marks, Esquire, Executive Director, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts.


• November 1, 2011 (12:00 – 1:30 p.m.) – Vision 2020: Campaign for Equality. Join us for a discussion with members of Vision 2020, a national initiative developed by the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine to make equality a national priority.


• Dec. 14 (4 – 6 p.m.) – “Meet the New Judges” Reception. Co-sponsored by the Women in the Profession Committee.

Legislation

Federal

House

• H.R. 3 (U.S. Congress) “No Taxpayer Funding For Abortions Act” (U.S. Congress) - 227 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: THIS BILL HAS PASSED IN THE HOUSE. May 9, 2011: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 40.
• H.R. 165 (U.S.) “To authorize [HHS] to make grants to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound equipment to provide free examinations in pregnant women needing such services” - No co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Feb 1, 2011: House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• H.R. 212 (U.S.) “Sanctity of Human Life Act” – 62 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Jan 24, 2011: House Committee on the Judiciary: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
• H.R. 217 (U.S.) “Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act” – 174 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Feb 1, 2011: House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• H.R. 284 (U.S.) “Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and Persons with Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2011” - 23 co-sponsors
  Last Action: Mar 23, 2011: House Committee on Financial Services: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.
• H.R. 396 Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 “To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in governmental activities.” - 89 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Feb 1, 2011: House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• H.R. 358 (U.S.) “Protect Life Act” - This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the House as a whole. – 144 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: May 20, 2011: House Committee on Ways and Means Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 9, 2011.
• H.R. 361 (U.S.) “Abortion Non-Discrimination Act” – 89 co-sponsors.Last Action: Feb 1, 2011: House Committee on Energy and Commerce: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• H.R. 374 (U.S.) “Life at Conception Act” – 79 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Jan 20, 2011: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• H.R. 418 (U.S.) International Women’s Freedom Act of 2011 – 12 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 23, 2011: House Financial Services: Referred to the Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade.
• H.R. 875 (U.S.) Marriage Protection Act of 2011 – “To amend title 28, United States Code, to limit Federal court jurisdiction over questions under the Defense of Marriage Act.” – 26 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 21, 2011: House Committee on the Judiciary: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
• H.R. 889 (U.S.) Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2011 – 18 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 9, 2011: House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education.
• H.R. 998 (U.S.) Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 – “To end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools, and for other purposes.” – 145 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 21, 2011: House Committee on Education and the Workforce: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
• H.R. 1048 Tyler ClementiHigher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2011 – 14 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 21, 2011: House Committee on Education and the Workforce: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
• H.R. 1232 (U.S.) To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to eliminate certain tax benefits relating to abortion – No co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Apr 6, 2011: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 27.
• H.R. 1260 (U.S.) Support for Survivors Act – 4 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: May 18, 2011: House Armed Services: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
• *H.R. 1269 (U.S.) National Women’s History Museum Act of 2011 – 64 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 31, 2011: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
• H.R. 1488 (U.S.) Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2011 – 57 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: May 2, 2011: House Committee on Financial Services: Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
• H.R. 1493 (U.S.) Fair Pay Act of 2011 – No co-sponsors.
  Last Action: May 20, 2011: House Committee on Education and the Workforce: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
• H.R. 2085 (U.S.) MARCH for Military Women Act – “To amend Title 10, United States Code, regarding restrictions on the use of Department of Defense funds and facilities for abortions” - 48 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Jun 2, 2011: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
  
• H.R. 2074 (U.S.) Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act - To amend title 38, United States Code, to require a comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents that occur at medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs – 6 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Jun 28, 2011: Forwarded to Subcommittee to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for voice vote.
  

Resolutions

• *H. Res. 20 (U.S.) “Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)” – 114 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 1, 2011: House Committee on Foreign Affairs: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.
• H.J. Res. 12 “Denouncing the practices of female genital mutilation, domestic violence, "honor" killings, acid burnings, dowry deaths, and other gender-based persecutions, expressing the sense of Congress that participation, protection, recognition, and equality of women is crucial to achieving a just, moral and peaceful society, and for other purposes.” - No co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 1, 2011: House Committee on Foreign Affairs: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.
• *H.J. Res. 31 “Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to equality of rights and reproductive rights.” – 28 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Feb 28, 2011: House Committee on the Judiciary: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
• H. J. Res. 47 (U.S.) Removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment – 29 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 21, 2011: House Committee on the Judiciary: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
• H. Res. 148 (U.S.) Supporting the Goals of Women’s International Day - 55 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Jun 1, 2011: House Judiciary: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Senate

• S. 91 Life at Conception Act “A bill to implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and unborn human person.” – 15 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Jan 25, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• S. 96 Title X Family Planning Act –“A bill to amend title X of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions.” – 6 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Jan 25, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• S. 250 (U.S.) Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2011 – 3 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Feb 1, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• S. 254 (U.S.) Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2011 “A bill to reduce the rape kit backlog and for other purposes.” – 9 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Feb 1, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• S. 540 (U.S.) Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2011 – 9 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 10, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


• S. 555 (U.S.) Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 – “To end discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools, and for other purposes.” - 34 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 10, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• *S. 596 (U.S.) Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2011 – 10 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 16, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• S. 658 (U.S.) Support for Survivors Act – 23 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Mar 28, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
• S. 680 (U.S.) National Women’s History Museum Act of 2011 – 21 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: May 2, 2011: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar (for debate) under General Orders. Calendar No. 37.
• S. 788 (U.S.) Fair Pay Act of 2011 – 8 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Apr 12, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• S. 797 (U.S.) “A bill to amend the FLSA of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. - 32 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: Apr 12, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• S. 811 (U.S.) Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 – 40 co-sponsors
  Last Action: Apr 13, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• S. 859 (U.S.) Public Agency Accountability for Sexual Harassment Act - No co-sponsors.
  Apr 14, 2011: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• S. 1280 (U.S.) Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011 – 25 co-sponsors.
  Last Action: July 26, 2011: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Resolutions

• S. Res. 149 (U.S.) “A resolution recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of Sexual Assault Awareness Month – No co-sponsors
  Last Action: Apr 14, 2011: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• *S. Res. 216 (U.S.) “A resolution encouraging women’s political participation in Saudi Arabia”
  Last Action: July 29, 2011 – Passed by Senate by unanimous consent.

Pennsylvania

House

• H.B. 235 and S.B. 338 (PA General Assembly) “An Act providing for posting of information relating to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline” (H.B.) – Referred to Judiciary and (S.B.) – Referred to Labor and Industry
  S.B. 338
• H.B. 574 An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, further providing for definitions, licensure, fees and issuance of license; and making an inconsistent repeal [further restrictions on abortion]. Passed May 11, 2011; Referred to Senate.
• H.B. 912 Relating to insurance coverage for abortion care in state health care exchanges – Referred to Insurance
• *H.B. 1274 An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for expert testimony in certain criminal proceedings. Passed June 24, 2011; Referred to Senate.

Resolutions

Senate

• *S.B. 3 Relating to insurance coverage for abortion care in state health care exchanges – Passed Senate on June 7, 2011; referred to House.
• S.B. 58 An Act providing for the protection of victims of sexual violence, for duties of law enforcement agencies, for procedure and for penalties – Passed Senate on May 2, 2011; referred to House.
• S.B. 427 An Act to ensure equitable coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices and the medical and counseling services necessary for their effective use – Referred to Banking and Insurance.
• *S.B. 732 An Act regulating certain facilities which perform abortions; imposing powers and duties on the Department of Health, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee and the Legislative Reference Bureau; and imposing penalties. – Passed June 14, 2011; referred to House.

Resolutions

Articles of Interest

• Public health concerns raised by potential passage of Pennsylvania S.B. 732 and H.B. 574
• Federal Health Department approves free birth control
• 90-second summary: H.R. 3: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, Compared to Hyde
• “Chipping Away Abortion Rights”, Los Angeles Times (Op. Ed. Feb. 9, 2011)
• Op-Ed Columnist: The Siege of Planned Parenthood
• ACLU Challenges Patents on Breast Cancer Genes: BRCA
• “Torn Apart by Immigration Enforcement: Family Separation and Parental Rights”
• “New Millennium, Same Glass Ceiling? The Impact of Law Firm Compensation Systems on Women,” a collaborative study done by the Project for Attorney Retention and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association
• United Nations Report on Human Trafficking
• “Anti-Abortion Forces Exploiting Gosnell Case”
• “Abortion Access and Pending Pennsylvania Legislation”
• “Things to Know About the New Adoption Amendments”
• "The Women Of My Generation Blew It, So Equality Is Up To You," Barnard College commencement address by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.

Resources

• www.womenslawproject.org – Women’s Law Project (includes list of certain state legislation affecting women)
• www.polarisproject.org – Polaris Project
• www.nwhm.org – National Women’s History Museum
• www.pa-interbranchcommission.com – The Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness
• www.drexel.edu/vision2020/ - Vision 2020
• www1.umn.edu/humanrts/iwraw/index.html - International Women’s Rights Action Watch
• http://www.now.org – National Organization of Women
• www.aclu.org – American Civil Liberties Union
• www.womenscommission.org – Women’s Refugee Commission
• thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com - The CNN Freedom Project – Ending Modern Day Slavery

Podcasts

• Carol E. Tracy of Women's Law Project on "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" at the April 5, 2011 meeting of the Women's Rights Committee.
• Catherine Gourley, author and National Women’s History Project affiliate, on “Women’s Images and Issues of the 20th Century,” at the June 7, 2011 meeting of the Women’s Rights Committee

To apply for Committee membership online, click here.

Co-Chairs

Maria Feeley
Chair
Pepper Hamilton LLP
3000 Two Logan Square
Eighteenth & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 981-4129
feeleym@pepperlaw.com

Teresa M. Rodriguez
Vice Chair
Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith, P.C.
1835 Market Street
Suite 2700
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 350-6600
trodriguez@hgsklawyers.com