Wasserman Schultz Participates in White House Summit on Working Families

Washington, DC, June 23, 2014
Rep. Wasserman Schultz was joined at the Summit by her constituent Robyn Perlman. Together, they founded the Early Learning Business Institute to help child care providers become better businesspeople. Rep. Wasserman Schultz and Mrs. Perlman discussed the business and child care situation in South Florida and some of their own experiences, the Institute, and their plans for the program during a Huffington Post live panel discussion at the Summit.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) participated in the White House Summit on Working Families today, which aims to set an agenda for a 21st century workplace. 
The Summit explored how, as the demographics of our workforce change, our workplaces can change to support working families, boost businesses’ bottom lines, and ensure America’s global economic competitiveness in the coming  decades. Businesses, economists, labor leaders, legislators, advocates and the media came together for discussions on issues facing the entire spectrum of working families – from low-wage workers to corporate executives, from young parents to baby boomers caring for their aging parents.
Rep. Wasserman Schultz was joined at the Summit by her constituent Robyn Perlman. Together, they founded the Early Learning Business Institute to help child care providers become better businesspeople. Rep. Wasserman Schultz and Mrs. Perlman discussed the business and child care situation in South Florida and some of their own experiences, the Institute, and their plans for the program during a Huffington Post live panel discussion at the Summit. 
“Today’s summit is a reflection of the President’s personal and professional belief that when women and families succeed, America succeeds. Building on the actions he has already taken to help create real, lasting economic security for working families, his announcements ranging from child care and sick leave, to pay equity and early education, will help even more women and families get ahead. I am honored to participate in this summit to share some of my own experiences with child care and work-life balance issues, as well as to learn more about the many public and private efforts happening nationwide to ensure that working families have the resources they need to thrive,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz said. 
A summary of the President’s announcements today is below. More information can be found at www.workingfamiliessummit.org. 
EXPANDING WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY AND EMPOWERING WORKERS
  • Taking Executive Action to Expand Workplace Flexibility.
  • Supporting the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. 
  • Empowering Pregnant Workers with Better Information About Their Rights. 
  • Extending Workplace Protections to All Families Equally. 
INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE
  • Promoting Access to Child Care for Workers in Job Training Programs. 
  • Expanding Access to High-Quality Child Care. 
  • Supporting High-Quality Early Education for All Children. 
MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD SOLUTIONS FOR PAID LEAVE
  • Supporting the Creation of State Paid Leave Programs. 
  • Providing Additional Research to Inform and Develop Paid Leave Solutions. 
CONTINUING TO CLOSE THE PAY GAP BY INCREASING ACCESS TO NON-TRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS
  • Federal Science Agencies Leading Efforts to Increase Women in STEM Research Careers. 
  • Mobilizing Colleges to Improve College Access and Success for Underserved Students.  
  • Expanding Access to Higher-Paying Jobs in Construction Fields for Women.
  • Launching a New Public-Private Partnership to Recruit and Train Women for STEM Fields and Apprenticeships. 
###