AAUW members outside the White House
Several AAUW Lobby Corps members in the Washington, D.C. area had the opportunity to attend a White House event on health care and older women last week, and I accompanied them to take photographs. It was my first visit to the White House, and I was really excited! We went through the security checkpoint, then dropped off our coats in the White House theater (informal coat check?), admired portraits of past presidents and first ladies in the hallways, and enjoyed piano music in the foyer before making our way to the East Wing.
During the event, we heard from White House staff members working on health care, from three “regular” women who shared their stories, and from First Lady Michelle Obama. Three of the AAUW members who attended shared their thoughts about the event.
First Lady Michelle Obama came to the podium; she has a beautiful and outstanding presence. She spoke intelligently and meaningfully about the facts of health care and the proposals to improve citizens’ care with the legislation passed by the House. I recognized many of her statements, right out of the AAUW briefing paper! The issues are very familiar to us volunteer lobbyists. … We are happy to have such support in the White House for our issues.
—Mary Lou Melley, AAUW memberAn aspect of AAUW’s effectiveness and strength was exemplified in the meeting Friday; many women, from many professions and backgrounds, came together as a coalition to get things done. I was touched to hear First Lady Michelle Obama speak about her commitment to ensure good health care for the women of her mother’s generation, in particular, and all Americans in general.
—Kitty Richardson, AAUW memberMrs. Obama spoke wonderfully, and she made my sprits soar when she said that health care reform protections will include requiring health insurance companies to cover routine checkups and preventive care, putting a cap on out of pocket costs, and making it unlawful law to deny coverage for preexisting conditions!
—Marion Mudd, AAUW member
First Lady Michelle Obama
Hearing Michelle Obama speak was the highlight of the event for me, too. I admired her thoughtfulness, sincerity, and intelligence. She spoke about how our mothers and grandmothers have taken care of us our whole lives and that we have an obligation to care for them in their old age. She outlined some of the challenges women face with their health care, including how the gender wage gap means they have less money to pay more expensive premiums than men, and some of the changes being proposed in the health care bill (which Marion mentioned). She emphasized the difference the bill will make for women who “gave us life, who raised us, who took care of us” and who “deserve better than the status quo.”
I look forward to the passage of a new bill, so everyone can have health care, especially children and the elderly. But I hope it does not come at the expense of women’s reproductive rights. Write to your senators today and urge them to oppose any amendment that jeopardizes women’s access to complete reproductive health care coverage.
First Lady Michelle Obama shaking hands after her talk
AAUW members at the White House
I was very impressed by your article Holly, and with what Michelle Obama is putting into action. This is wonderful for people of my age so that we can feel more secure about our future! We seriously need a change in this Country, and it is so true that it is an honor to take care of our Mother’s in their older age after they have raised us!
Thank you, Holly, for this impressive article. We all need to encourage women to speak out and stop the secondary status all too many of us accept. You will encourage many of them to speak out and help to change our health care coverage. Good for you!
I do hope this health care passes and it is so nice to have a first lady who is trying to help women of all ages.