Washington DC: United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden made significant strides in prioritising women’s healthcare during a Women’s History Month reception at the White House. President Biden signed an executive order on Monday, prioritising women’s health research within federal agencies and directing efforts to identify and address gaps in funding.
There was a clear message from President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to women’s voters across the US that they stood firm for women’s rights and their right to their own reproductive health.
Addressing the event President Biden said, “If you want to have the strongest economy in the world, you can’t leave half the country behind.”
President Biden highlighted that his administration has focused in women, putting women into leadership position, cited low unemployment among women, increases in loans to small businesses owned by women, action’s he’s taken on gun measures, and the child tax credit.
Reproductive freedom is on the ballot, Biden added clearly underscoring that he will focus on Women’s rights as a key election issue in the US elections 2024 to take on his rival Donald Trump.
Additionally, President Biden promised to restore Roe v Wade if voters send him back to office with a Democratic House and Senate. “Let’s rise up, know our power, tell our story” the President said.
First Lady Jill Biden addressing the event said: “We simply don’t know enough about how to prevent and detect or treat the conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately and differently. For deciades business as ususal has meant understudying and underfunding women’s health. Your President believes that is unacceptable
“Medications, treatments and medical school textbooks are based on men and their bodies but that ends today. Finally, women will get the health care they deserve,” the First Lady added.
Speaking at the event Vice President Kamala Harris said Harris: “There is so much at stake at this moment and we each face a question, what kind of country do we want to live in. Do we want to live in a country of liberty, freedom and the rule of law or a country of disorder, fear and hate? Each of us has the power to answer that question with our feet and with our vote.”
Executive Order and Financial Pledge: President Biden signed an executive order prioritising women’s health research within federal agencies, directing efforts to identify and address gaps in funding. A substantial financial pledge of $200 million for investments in Fiscal Year 2025 underscores the administration’s commitment to advancing research in this crucial area.
Addressing Gender Gaps in Research: The US President also ordered his administration to report on progress they are making to erase gender gaps in research and to study how to use artificial intelligence to improve women’s health research. Agencies will report annually on their investments and progress towards enhancing women’s health, while identifying necessary changes to support research efforts effectively.
Enhancing Data Collection and Research Agenda: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will enhance data collection on women’s midlife health and initiate a comprehensive research agenda targeting menopause-related conditions.
Improving Treatment and Research for Service Women and Women Veterans: The Executive Order mandates the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve treatment and research on menopause for service women and women veterans.
Prioritising Women’s Environmental Health: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising grant solicitations and contracts to prioritise consideration of women’s exposures and health outcomes. This aims to enhance understanding of women’s environmental health across the EPA’s research portfolio, from endocrine disruption to toxic exposure.
President Biden called on Congress to allocate $12 billion for women’s health research during his State of the Union address. This proposed funding would establish a Fund for Women’s Health Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), facilitating interdisciplinary research and establishing a network of innovative research centres nationwide.
The First Lady announced $100 million in funding for women’s health in February.
