August '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley Column

Berkley Celebrates 90th Anniversary Of Women’s Right To Vote

August 26, 2010 – Las Vegas, NV – Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today encouraged all Americans to join in celebration of the 90th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote and hold office. This week marks the ratification of the 19th Amendment which occurred on August 26, 1920.

“On this 90th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, we honor the brave suffragists and pioneers who blazed the trail for all American women,” said Berkley. “Those who took part in the suffragist movement are role models who continue to inspire generations of young Americans through their words and deeds. Were it not for these pioneers, I would have never had the opportunity to serve as a Congresswoman. For our grandmothers, mothers, sisters and daughters, we must continue to fight for women across the country and around the world, until the dream of true equality becomes a reality for all women.”

There has been great progress for women’s equality since the passage of the 19th Amendment, but significant work remains to be done. Women still earn 77 cents for every dollar men make, and women hold just 17 percent of the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 17 percent in the Senate – signs that our goal of equality requires our continued focus and energy. It is important that we remember the legacy of the early suffragists and keep their spirit of fighting for women’s rights alive today.

“While it may seem unbelievable to Americans in the 21st Century, it was not many generations ago that women in the U.S. did not have the right to vote or hold office. We must remember how far we have come as a nation since women’s suffrage was enacted, and one way to keep that memory alive is by recognizing those who led the fight for equality at the ballot box,” said Berkley. “The resolution I introduced last Congress honors the tireless work of the suffragists and the lasting contributions their efforts have made to our democratic system.”

Berkley authored legislation in the 110th Congress honoring America’s suffragists and supporting a National Suffragists Day to raise awareness of the work these women did to fight for the women’s vote in the United States. This legislation was passed unanimously by the U.S. House of Representatives and recognizes the anniversary of the inaugural women’s rights convention, which took place at Seneca Falls, New York on July 19, 1848.

Nevada Tapped To Receive Additional $7 Million In Weatherization Funding

Recovery Act Program Has Already Put Nevadans to Work Installing Energy Saving Improvements in 4,000 Homes – More Jobs to Follow

August 24, 2010 – Las Vegas, NV – Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today announced that Nevada has been tapped to receive an additional $7 million in funding to weatherize Nevada homes. The improvements, funded through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, reduce energy costs for Nevadans and provide jobs for workers in Las Vegas and around the Silver State.

“Weatherizing homes in Las Vegas and across Nevada creates jobs and real savings for families,” said Berkley. “We have already seen 4,000 homes in Nevada undergo these improvements funded through the Recovery Act, and this additional $7 million will provide even more of our neighbors with the opportunity to qualify for weatherization retrofits that can slash power bills and reduce water use each month. At a time when our State is facing 14% unemployment, these funds are creating jobs for Nevadans in need of a paycheck and that is welcome news. For seniors on fixed incomes and families watching every dollar in their budgets, this weatherization program can help those who qualify to save every single month.”

This morning Berkley visited two homes in Las Vegas homes that have been weatherized using funding provided under the Recovery Act and met with the residents to discuss their energy savings and the process involved in adding the upgrades to their residences. The Congresswoman visited the homes with a representative of HELP of Southern Nevada, a non-profit which works with residents to help them access the weatherization program and with those who perform the work. Photos of Berkley’s visit can be viewed at: http://berkley.house.gov/media/photos.shtml.

“Once these improvements are in place, homeowners begin to see reductions right away in the amount of water and power they use and the proof comes when they see the savings on their bills each month. I want to thank HELP of Southern Nevada and these local Southern Nevada residents for inviting me to visit their homes and helping me to learn more about how the weatherization program operates and all the benefits that it provides to Las Vegas and other communities in the Silver State,” said Berkley.

Nevada has been one of the country’s weatherization leaders under the Recovery Act and is continuing to weatherize thousands of homes for local low-income families. Through July, Nevada has weatherized a total of nearly 4,000 homes under the Recovery Act. Las Vegas, Reno, Ely, and Carson City have been selected to receive nearly $7 million in additional Recovery Act resources to install in-home energy monitors, photovoltaic systems, solar water heaters, heat pumps, residential wind turbines, and to perform deep efficiency retrofits. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income families save energy and money by improving the energy efficiency of their homes.