For Immediate Release
DATE: May 27, 2025
CONTACT: Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, WCPI President
jennifer@wcpinst.org
The Bipartisan Women’s Caucus Outlines Shared Agenda for Women and Families
Republicans and Democrats unite to set agenda for the 119th Congress
Washington, DC – Today, the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus (BWC) of the United States Congress announced their shared policy goals, which reaffirms the Caucus’ commitment to championing policies that support the health, economic stability, safety, and leadership of women and girls across the country.
Co-Chairs, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) and Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH), along with Vice-Chairs, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), present a collective vision to strengthen and support women and their families through commonsense and bipartisan solutions.
The Caucus outlined the following legislation priorities for this Congress:
- Caregiving: Exploring ways to better support caregivers
- Food and Nutrition: Expanding access to healthy and nutritious food
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Promoting programs for women-owned businesses
- STEM/STEAM: Creating greater opportunities and a pipeline for women and girls
- Women Veterans: Addressing military sexual trauma and enhancing research on women veterans’ health
- Violence Against Women: Supporting efforts to promote the economic security of survivors
- Women’s Health: Strengthening and funding maternal health, mid-life health and expanding IVF insurance coverage
- Women’s History Museum: Ensuring women’s contributions throughout our country’s history is recognized and honored
The Bipartisan Women’s Caucus Co-Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Lynda Carter at the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Event on Capitol Hill
“As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus, I’m committed to working across the aisle to advance policies that support women-owned small businesses, strengthen families, and expand access to childcare and elder care,” said Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15). “Empowering women is at the heart of our mission, and I look forward to delivering commonsense solutions on the priorities we share.”
“As the representative for one of the most bipartisan congressional districts in the country, it is an honor to Co-Chair the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus to prioritize real change for women and girls in America,” said Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13). “Whether we are working to raise awareness around violence against women, improving women’s health, expanding opportunities for women and girls in STEAM, or engaging in efforts to improve access to healthy foods and ensure food is safe for our children, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with so many amazing women across the political spectrum to make sure that women and girls are not left behind by our government.”
“As Vice-Chair serving in the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus, I remain committed to advancing commonsense, bipartisan policies that support women and families nationwide,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11). “We’ve worked to increase the Child Tax Credit and expand women’s health care, support women-owned businesses, advance STEM opportunities, supporting solutions to increase access to child care, and champion a National Women’s History Museum. We’re working across the aisle to empower current and future generations of women and girls.”
“Every day I hear from Oregonians that want lower costs, better jobs, and a fair chance at the American Dream,” said Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05). “I remain firmly committed to working across the aisle as Vice-Chair of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus to deliver real results to improve Americans’ quality of life.”
“In keeping with their 48-year history, the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus’ legislative priorities for the 119th Congress demonstrates their continued commitment to work across the aisle to ensure women and their families are economically secure, healthy and safe,” said President of the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat. “WCPI will continue to work alongside the Caucus to hold regular briefings and engage in thoughtful bipartisan discussions and learning opportunities for Members and congressional staff.”
About the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus
The Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues was founded in 1977 and later changed its name to the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus (BWC). When it was founded, the Caucus included 15 of the 18 women who served in the House of Representatives. Today, nearly one-third of the House are women members.
With its founding, the Caucus offered a clear space for women members to speak in public and with each other about women’s policy issues with the goal of developing, initiating, and promoting bipartisan legislation and public policies for women.
Some of the early accomplishments of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus included:
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1978)
- The Retirement Equity Act (1984)
- The Women’s Business Ownership Act (1988)
- The Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act (1990)
- The Family and Medical Leave Act (1993)
- The Violence Against Women Act (1994)
About the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute
Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) was formed in 1995 when the House of Representatives voted to abolish several legislative service organizations, including the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus.
WCPI now exists as a nonpartisan public policy nonprofit whose mission is to bring together a community of bipartisan women policymakers and trusted partners to advance issues of importance to women, develop the next generation of women leaders, and foster a more effective and representative democracy.
Click here to learn more about BWC’s history and WCPI.