The American Jobs Act: Putting Women Back to Work

President Obama sent his jobs bill, the American Jobs Act, to Congress on Monday, September 8, 2011, four days after addressing a joint session of the House and Senate about the urgency of putting Americans back to work. WOW representatives were in the Rose Garden audience that the President addressed before sending his bill to the Hill saying, “Pass this bill, pass it now.” To read the full transcript of the speech, click here. To read WOW's analysis of the jobs proposal, click here.

The American Jobs Act addresses concerns raised by Wider Opportunities for Women's 2011 Jobs Agenda, released just days before the President's proposal, and a letter to the President, which calls for the Administration to put women back to work and is supported by 90 organizations. In addition to jobs for teachers and the modernization of 35,000 schools, the bill calls for employment and training opportunities for women in infrastructure projects. For more information on the American Jobs Act, please see this White House-issued fact sheet on the impact that the bill will have on women, which quotes WOW's policy brief. To find out more about how the American Jobs Act will impact your state, click here.

WOW was pleased to attend the event along with a select group of people from across the country who would benefit from the proposed legislation, including: teachers, police officers, firefighters, construction workers, small business owners, and veterans.

Representing WOW, Family Economic Security Program Director Matt Unrath and Policy Director Susan Rees attended the event. (left)

President Obama leaves the podium after making his remarks. (right)