I will be hosting my final Women’s Issues Conference on Saturday, September 13 at 9 a.m. at nearby Washington-Lee High School in Arlington.

We will hear from keynote speaker Neera Tanden, President of the Center for American Progress. Named one of the “Most Influential Women in Washington” by National Journal, she has served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations.

This year’s event will highlight women’s economic issues and policies that affect work and family. We’ve made remarkable progress on women’s economic issues, but there is still much progress to be made. In 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was enacted, women who worked full-time, year round made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. In 2009, women still earned only 77 cents to the dollar and family-friendly policies like compulsory paid sick leave or paid maternity or paternity leave are still not mandated by federal law.

President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress have fought to make up for lost ground in recent years. Last June, he called on federal agencies to offer workers more flexible work schedules at the White House Summit on Work and Families. The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act allows greater flexibility in pursuing discrimination claims and President Obama signed a new executive order guaranteeing women equal pay from federal contractors. Thanks to these measures the pay gap is beginning to shrink.

After hearing from Neera Tanden on the women’s pay gap and work and family policy, a series of breakout seminars on a range of topics impacting women will be held. These include:

• International Women’s Issues: Laurna Strikwerda – Freedom House, Program Officer

• Building Your Network and Your Professional Brand: Dana Taylor – Intelligent Ethos, CEO; Amanda Miller Littlejohn – Mopwater Social PR, Founder

• Getting to Equality in the Workplace: Stacye Montez – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Executive Director; Amanda Andere – Wider Opportunities for Women, CEO

• Perfect Your Interview Skills in 50 Minutes: Sandy Smith – Arlington Employment Center, Transition Services Manager; Liane H. Gould – Arlington County, Adult Services Division

• Understanding the Affordable Care Act: Carlon Ocel – ENROLL Virginia, Health Care Navigator; Jessica Killeen – ENROLL Virginia, Health Care Navigator; Taylor Burke, JD – George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Assistant Professor of Health Law and Policy
• Car Care: Roy Krebs – Jack Taylor’s Alexandria Toyota, Shop Foreman

Our informational booths that kick off the event will offer health screenings and feature a range of local non-profits who provide services to women. You will also be able to take home a free digital copy of your professional photo.

I hope you can join me on September 13 at Washington-Lee. Bagels, coffee, and juice will be served in the morning, followed by a pizza lunch. Please register online through my website at moran.house.gov.