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De La Cruz, Sykes Announce Bipartisan Women’s Caucus Shared Agenda for Women and Families

Washington, May 28, 2025

Washington, DC – 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) announce theBipartisan Women's Caucus priorities for the 119th Congress.

The Caucus outlined the following legislative priorities:

  • 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

“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.Empowering women is at the heart of our mission, and I look forward to delivering commonsense solutions on the priorities we share.”-Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)

 

“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. 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.”-Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13)

 

“As Vice-Chair serving in the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus, I remain committed to advancing commonsense, bipartisan policies that support women and families nationwide. 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.”-Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.

 

“Every day I hear from Oregonians that want lower costs, better jobs, and a fair chance at the American Dream. 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.”-Congresswoman Janelle Bynum

 

“In keeping with their 48-year history, the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus’ legislative priorities for the 119th Congress demonstrate their continued commitment to work across the aisle to ensure women and their families are economically secure, healthy and safe. 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.”-President of the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat

 

Background:

The Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues was founded in 1977 and later renamed to the Bipartisan Women's Caucus (BWC). When it was founded, the Caucus included 15 of the 18 women servingin the House of Representatives. Today, nearly one-third of the House are women members. With its founding, the Caucus offered a 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)

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