August '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus Column

Titus Celebrates Women’s Equality Day and the 90th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote

August 26, 2010 – Henderson, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District released the following statement today celebrating the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.

“On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. Every year, our country celebrates this milestone with Women’s Equality Day. In the years since we gained the right to vote in 1920, women have continued to make strides in American life to achieve more access, more participation, more rights, and true equality.

“Celebrating this anniversary not only helps us remember the incredible women of our past, it inspires the next generation of women and women leaders. When women gain numbers in representation, and more women engage in the political process, women gain influence – and that means greater progress for America’s women and families.

“Susan B. Anthony said ‘there never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers,’ and I know it pleases us all that women’s participation in politics has accelerated rapidly in recent years. In 1987, there were only 16 women serving in the House of Representatives and only two women serving in the Senate. Today there are 76 women in the House, 17 in the Senate, and three on the Supreme Court.

“I have been working hard for women in Congress. According to last year’s Shriver Report, for the first time in our nation’s history, women make up half of all U.S. workers. Mothers are the primary breadwinners or co-breadwinners in two-thirds of American families.

“With more women than ever working, it is even more critical to fight for fairness and equality for America’s working women. Health care reform will help improve access to care while ending discriminatory practices that leave women facing higher costs. In addition, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first bill President Obama signed when he took office, gives women the tools to fight pay discrimination in the workplace.

“But we still have not achieved equal pay. Women earn 77 cents to every dollar earned by a man. That is why I cosponsored and the House passed H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act. We must right this injustice and urge the Senate to pass this bill.

“We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Let us remember the fierce determination of the women who won for us the right to vote. Let us honor their sacrifice, engage in the political process, and exercise our right to vote.”

Titus Highlights Additional $7 Million for Nevada to Weatherize Homes

Program Lowers Energy Bills and Creates Jobs

August 24, 2010 – Henderson, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District highlighted additional funding today from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Nevada’s State Weatherization Program. Through July, Nevada has weatherized nearly 4,000 homes with $37.3 million in Recovery Act funds. Today’s announcement by the Department of Energy means that the State will receive an additional $7 million through the Recovery Act to build upon this successful program.

“As a result of funds from the Recovery Act, thousands of Nevadans are paying less for their energy bills at a time when saving every dollar counts,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Investing in weatherizing homes across the state has also helped our hard-hit construction sector, creating jobs in an industry that greatly needs a boost.”

Four high-performing local weatherization agencies in Las Vegas, Reno, Ely, and Carson City have been selected to receive nearly $7 million to install in-home energy monitors, photovoltaic systems, solar water heaters, heat pumps, and residential wind turbines; and to perform deep efficiency retrofits. The selections were part of nearly $120 million in awards announced nationally to complement and expand existing weatherization programs, drive innovation in the program, and deliver even greater energy bill savings for local families.

Nevada’s efforts are contributing to the success of the program nationwide. After ramping up last year, the Weatherization Assistance Program is now weatherizing homes at its optimal rate – approximately 25,000 homes per month. In June, states reported that nearly 31,800 homes were weatherized with Recovery Act funding – the most ever in a month. This summer alone, more than 80,000 homes will be weatherized across the country.

According to state reports, the Recovery Act Weatherization Assistance Program supported more than 13,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2010, including more than 80 jobs in Nevada.