A Proven Record On The Issues That Matter To Women And Families

A Proven Record On The Issues That Matter To Women And Families Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Max Baucus has consistently fought for issues that are important to women: the right to choose, access to quality health care, protection against both physical harm and discrimination, and equal pay for equal work. His leadership and support in these areas have improved the quality of life for all Montanans.

In 2007, Montana's People Action honored Max as a "CHIP Champion" for his outstanding work on the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Ensuring Women Receive Equal Pay For Equal Work And Equal Access To Higher Education

  • Max co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, which provides more effective remedies to women who, due to their gender, have been paid less than men.
  • Max has worked to make higher education more affordable and job training more accessible allowing women to pursue their professional aspirations while also addressing the needs of their families.
  • Max granted more money to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to enforce laws banning employment discrimination.
  • Max voted to eliminate artificial barriers to the advancement of women and help increase opportunities for women in business.
  • Max voted to prohibit funds from going towards military registration that did not include women.

Working To Protect Women From Violence

  • In 2007, Max announced over $160,000 for the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. MCADSV said they will put the funds towards helping coordinate victims' services and to better respond to violence against women.
  • Max co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Act II, which strengthened law enforcement to reduce violence against women. Specifically, money designated through this act was used to train police officers, prosecutors and judges on the unique aspects of cases involving violence against women.
  • Max's Violence Against Women Act II also improved services to the victims of domestic violence, giving female victims money for counseling and legal assistance.
  • Max helped secure STOP (Services Training Officers Prosecutors) Violence Against Indian Women grants for the Salish and Kootenai tribes. The funding was used to provide legal advocacy, support groups and referral to area service providers to the women of the Flathead Reservation.
  • Max cosponsored the original Violence Against Women Act which later became law and created monumental changes in the criminal justice system to protect women who are victimized.

Maintaining The Quality And Accessibility Of Healthcare For Women And Their Families

  • Max made sure that his CHIP allowed states to provide prenatal care for women that is vital for healthy newborn children
  • Max cosponsored the Prevention First Act which called for authorizing funds for family planning service grants and contracts. The bill also included prohibiting any group health plan or health insurance issuer providing group coverage from excluding or restricting benefits in any way for prescription contraceptive drugs, devices, or outpatient services.
  • Max pushed a bill to provide medical assistance for low-income women with breast or cervical cancer.
  • Max cosponsored the Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act which requires equitable coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, and contraceptive services under health plans.

Protecting Women's Rights To Control Their Own Reproductive Health

  • Max has a life-time 100 percent approval rating from the National Abortion Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL).
  • Max supported Planned Parenthood in fighting to uphold the Freedom of Access to Clinics Entrance Act (FACE) which he cosponsored
  • Max was proud to announce over $1 million to fund 15 family planning clinics around Montana. The clinics offer family planning services on all medically approved methods of contraception, as well as counseling services, physical examinations, information on fertility and services to adolescents.

Ensuring Quality Child-Care

  • Max was an outspoken supporter of the TANF amendment which he helped pass and led to a $20 million increase for child care assistance in Montana.
  • Max voted to provide a tax credit for companies that provide child-care for their children, therefore giving companies incentive to offer this crucial aid.
  • In order to ensure consistent quality, affordability and availability of child-care- regardless of the state of the economy, Max supported an amendment to create a deficit neutral reserve fund for child-care services.
  • In 2000, Max received a 100% approval rating from the children's defense fund, an organization whose mission is to ensure every child has a healthy, fair, safe, and moral start.

Increasing Funds Designated To Breast Cancer Research, Detection And Treatment

  • Max cosponsored legislation to extend the sale of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp Program until the end of 2009. Since the stamp first went on sale in 1998, it has raised over $50 million for breast cancer research.
  • Max was a leader in getting the Senate to pass the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act. Under this bill which Max helped to introduce, women diagnosed with cancer through a federally sponsored early detection program would become eligible for an optional state Medicaid benefit.
  • Max co-sponsored legislation to make mammograms more reliable and more easily accessible to low-income women.

Providing Health Care for Children

  • Max was one of the original authors of the CHIP program which helps deliver much needed health care to millions of American children.
  • With Max's leadership, his Children's Health Insurance Program bill passed the Senate with a veto-proof majority. Max is still fighting to get his plan passed which would set aside over $27 million for Montana and allow the state to cover an additional 12,000 children while still covering the more than 15,700 children already enrolled.
  • Max supported an amendment to require the Department of Health and Human Services to periodically report to Congress the extent of child poverty in the United States. Such assessments would allow the Congress to more adequately provide for the children in need.
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