was elected to New York's 14th Congressional district (parts of Manhattan and Queens) in the House of Representatives in 1992, the so-called "Year of the Woman".
Chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee and former co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, she passed numerous bills to improve the lives of women and families. Her work on anti-rape legislation was the basis of a Lifetime movie , A Life Interrupted, in which one of the major characters was Carolyn B. Maloney.
In 1994, when Republicans gained control of the House, Maloney began keeping track of anti-choice actions in a Scorecard. By the time Democrats regained control in 2006, the total had reached 176.
A strong believer in equal pay for equal work, Maloney has documented the persistence of the wage gap between men and women, joining Representative John Dingell in authoring two reports:
The results indicate that women have made few gains over the last twenty years in terms of real wages, and suggest that discrimination is a possible explanation.
And still other reasons have to do with political climate. Since 2001, although Congress has appropriated funds, the Bush Administration has withheld U.S. contributions for the international family planning programs sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Congresswoman Maloney has been among those leading the fight to restore funding. In the 109th Congress, Maloney and a bipartisan group of colleagues offered an amendment that would have prevented the State Department from blocking funding to UNFPA, but it was defeated on the House floor.
Since 2001, although Congress has appropriated funds, the Bush Administration has withheld U.S. contributions for the international family planning programs sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Congresswoman Maloney has been among those leading the fight to restore funding. In the 109th Congress, Maloney and a bipartisan group of colleagues offered an amendment that would have prevented the State Department from blocking funding to UNFPA, but it was defeated on the House floor. Maloney has also led efforts to remove controversy over UNFPA funding by directing America's contribution solely to the effort to end obstetric fistula, a condition that arises from poor pre-natal care and results in horrific and debilitating vaginal and intestinal injuries in women and, often times, stillborn babies.
Maloney has been honored by numerous women's groups, including the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, the Queens Women's Political Caucus, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, The Population Institute, the Academy of breastfeeding Mediine, the Center for the Women of New York, and Business and Professional Women.
Buy the book Rumors Of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated and find out how you can improve your life and make a real difference.
