Gwen Moore
U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) was recently honored by two national groups – Planned Parenthood and the School Social Workers Association of America – for her work on women’s health care and education.
Last week, Moore was awarded the Champion for Women’s Health Award for her work during efforts to end funding for low-income women to have access to birth control and other preventive health care such as mammograms and HIV tests. During debate on an amendment, which would have barred Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding to provide health care to low-income women, Congresswoman Moore gave a deeply personal speech on the House floor about her experience with unintended pregnancy.
Congresswoman Moore said, “While we were successful this time, we cannot rest. Many states – including Wisconsin – are cutting funding that helps many women access needed health care. And many of my Republican colleagues in Washington will keep fighting for these cuts. We must remain vigilant. We must keep fighting so that many women can continue to see a doctor.”
And just this morning, Moore was awarded the Children’s Champion Award for writing legislation that would help schools hire or keep school social workers. School social workers provide a range of services to students from counseling to crisis intervention to addressing truancy. Students who benefit from school social workers face multiple issues at home and school, including disability, poverty, abuse, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, bullying, or more.
Moore continued, “Kids who face problems at home also face problems at school, which can hold them back. School social workers have a proven track record of helping kids overcome these obstacles and help them succeed.”