Just as Elise took initiative to elevate Republican women's representation in Congress in 2018, she will bring that same tenacity to fight for needed reform at the United Nations. From being the youngest woman ever elected to Congress to her creation of EPAC, which recruited record waves of strong Republican women, Elise Stefanik has been at the forefront of promoting true female empowerment. As the future U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, women in the United States and around the globe will be lifted up due to her leadership.
Unfortunately, women’s issues both domestically in the United States and internationally at organizations like the UN are too often conflated with the single issue of abortion, ignoring the critical role that women's empowerment plays in lifting up those in developing nations, providing life-sustaining maternal healthcare, and defending women’s safety. Serving in Congress with Elise for 10 years, I have seen firsthand the tenacity and passion she brings to the issues, especially those that impact women and children. The United Nations is in desperate need of this focus.
At the United Nations, you see entities like “UN-Women” that are purportedly tasked with protecting and upholding women’s dignity around the globe, yet they initially refused to acknowledge the atrocities of rape and murder committed against women and children during the brutal Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. You see UN entities like the UN Population Fund turning a blind eye to coercive abortion and sterilization practices in China. These policies are not pro-woman, and they do not protect or support women. The UN is in desperate need of real leadership when it comes to these issues, and, after serving with Elise in Congress, I know she will be the perfect fit.
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During our time working together on Capitol Hill, Elise has joined me on several issues of critical importance. One of those issues is countering the tragedy of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. During my time as a United States Ambassador, I was first exposed to the horrors of human trafficking on an international level and, as a result of the failed leadership of the outgoing administration’s failed open border policies, America has now been exposed to an influx of sex trafficking which has contaminated our neighborhoods, school districts, and communities. Around the globe, millions of women and children are tragically trafficked every year. When I came to Congress, I committed to address this problem head on, and I have been proud to provide a voice to the voiceless drafting critical legislation to attack this crisis from multiple angles and defend the many daughters, sisters, nieces, and friends that fall victim to this horrendous crime.
As a fighter in Congress, Elise joined me in combating this vital issue. I have no doubt that she will continue to be an outspoken voice for the voiceless and advocate for women’s health and safety as she joins the international stage. During her time in Congress, Elise introduced a series of legislation that proactively supported pre- and postnatal care for women. She has fought to improve access to maternal health for mothers serving in the military, expand child care access, and was one of the leading voices in Congress working to solve the infant formula shortage in 2023. As her friend, I know that Elise proudly defines herself first and foremost as a mom who is passionate about expanding access to maternal healthcare and making it easier for women to embrace motherhood.
Women's issues are not singular; they are global and far-reaching, directly correlated to issues of national security and peace. The previous administration was defined by weak leadership and a multitude of foreign policy failures, one being the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The collapse of Afghanistan not only resulted in the loss of brave American soldiers, it restored power to an oppressive regime and extinguished a once bright future for generations of Afghan women and girls. As a senior member on the House Armed Services and Education and Workforce Committees, Elise has been an outspoken supporter of ensuring that women and girls in Afghanistan and other areas of conflict have continued access to education and healthcare. I am confident that these efforts will be reflected in her future work at the United Nations.
Elise Stefanik has made a mission out of empowering women in her district of Upstate New York and the North Country, across the nation, and around the globe. She is the right woman for this critical moment in history to serve at the United Nations and enact lasting reform for women everywhere. I look forward to continuing our work together as she brings the fight to Turtle Bay.
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