This month we celebrated the 96th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution—which granted women the right to vote. Regardless of our politics, as we approach this historic election with a woman on the ballot as a major-party Presidential nominee, we should take stock of the work left to do—to protect women from abuse, ensure women receive equal pay for equal work, and allow our mothers and fathers the ability to care for their families without fear of losing their jobs.
Growing up, I watched my single mother work hard to provide for her three kids. She raised us in a one-bathroom house on a public-school teacher’s salary of $22,000 a year. Even through the challenges our family endured, my mom had an unwavering belief in my future. The belief she instilled in me, my brother and my sister—that we could grow up to be whatever we wanted to be in life—provided us with the courage to work hard and pursue our dreams. I am thankful to have had the support of my dad, grandparents, and all of my family every step of the way.
Hardworking women, like my mom, are the foundation of Arkansas’s success. But we must do more to ensure that all of our mothers, sisters, and daughters are protected. All women should have the ability to get ahead with hard work, be treated fairly in the workplace, and live free from fear. Unfortunately, Arkansas’s current Senior U.S. Senator, John Boozman, has voted against the interests of women, time and time again. We need new leadership that will protect Arkansas’s women and recognize that there is more to be done. That’s why I’m running to be your next U.S. Senator. Here’s how we can better protect Arkansas’s women:
First, we must address the violence directed at women in our society. The reality in America is that one in four women will experience violence at the hands of someone she knows, and one in five will be raped during her lifetime. As a prosecutor, I prosecuted unspeakable crimes against women, cracking down on human trafficking and crimes involving harassment and abuse.
Law enforcement must have the resources to stop domestic violence. This is why I support the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which combats violence against women by providing resources to law enforcement, our courts, and most importantly, the victims of violence. Senator Boozman voted against this act.
Senator Boozman voted against VAWA even though it helped domestic violence decline by 64% and included widespread support from Republicans and Democrats. Senator Boozman voted against VAWA despite the fact that more than 50 domestic violence shelters in Arkansas depend on its funding. As a prosecutor, I have seen first-hand how vital these resources are to cracking down on crimes against women. Senator Boozman’s opposition to VAWA is unfathomable and inexcusable.
The second step to protecting women is to ensure that men and women receive equal pay for equal work. It’s just common sense that if a man and a woman do the same work, they should get the same pay. The reality is that on average women only receive 79 cents for every dollar that men earn for identical work. We can and must do better. Unfortunately, Senator Boozman voted twice against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and he voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act over five times. As your next U.S. Senator, I will stand up for women and support efforts to ensure equal work gets equal pay.
Finally, we must recognize that the American Dream includes being able to provide and care for your family without fear of losing your job in the process. The time is now for us to pass paid family and medical leave legislation so employees have the flexibility to care for their sick children, loved ones, or themselves. Every family must also have access to affordable healthcare for their children.
We simply cannot accept the status quo. We need leaders who will fight for all of us. We must ensure that all people have the opportunity to succeed and live the quality of life each of us envisions for our children and ourselves.
- Conner