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The Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues is a bipartisan membership organization within the House of Representatives committed to advancing women's interests in Congress.[1] It was founded by fifteen Congresswomen on April 19, 1977, and was originally known as the Congresswomen's Caucus. [2] Its founding co-chairs were Representatives Elizabeth Holtzman (N.Y.-Dem.) and Margaret Heckler (Mass.-Rep.).[3] In 1981, men were invited to join and the name of the organization was therefore changed to the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues.[4] However, in January 1995, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to eliminate funding for offices and staff of caucus organizations on Capitol Hill; therefore, the Congresswomen reorganized themselves into a Members' organization.[4] It is still called the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, but men no longer belong to it.[4] Today its membership consists of all women in the U.S. House of Representatives.[3]
Electoral participation data indicates that for more than 50 years, women have been voting in larger numbers than men.[1] The CCWI was intended to address descriptive representation. With such few women in Congress, the legislative agenda was not representative of the wants and needs of female constituents. It was also a concern that the female representatives faced issues that wouldn't be addressed by the party organizations already established within Congress.[1]
In 1990, the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues inspired a House resolution to honor long-time Caucus Secretary Lindy Boggs by naming the room the caucus met in the Corrine "Lindy" Boggs Congressional Women's Reading Room, which it is known as today.[4][5] It had previously been known as the Congresswomen's Reading Room.[4]
- ^ a b c Legislative Reform, the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, and the Cr...[dead link]
- ^ "Women's Congressional Policy Institute: Caucus History and Accomplishments". Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Women's Caucus Puts Health at Top of Its '09 List – Women's eNews". 5 January 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Caucus History & Accomplishments - Women's Congressional Policy Institute". Wcpinst.org. 1977-04-19. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ Hess, Hannah (2013-07-29). "Washington Bids Farewell to Lindy Boggs". Roll Call. Retrieved 6 October 2014.