Nevada and Boulder City have a proud history of women leaders, and as we celebrated Women’s History Month in March, we recognize their many contributions. These women championed education and preservation issues, and they advanced Nevada’s women, youth, and minority communities.

Supporting women’s access to healthcare has long been a priority. I fought to pass the Affordable Care Act, which will improve critical health services for women by reducing family health insurance premiums, and prohibiting insurance companies from denying women health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Starting in August, new insurance plans will be required to cover critical women’s preventive service like well-women visits and contraception, as well as diabetes, HIV and domestic violence screenings without any copayments.

Last month, the Senate narrowly defeated an amendment that would have allowed any employer to deny coverage of any health care services for any reason. This proposal would have been particularly harmful to women’s health because it would have jeopardized access to free preventive services like contraception and well-women visits for hundreds of thousands of Nevada women.

My support for women’s rights has also gone beyond our nation’s borders. I strongly advocated for a reversal to the global gag rule and I have also supported funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Both of these efforts will provide and promote life-saving reproductive health and family planning services for women around the world.

This year, I am proud to again co-sponsor the Violence Against Women Act, which is up for reauthorization. This landmark legislation will keep the effort to end the epidemic of violence against women as a national focus. Even as we recognize Women’s History Month in Nevada, we know that much work remains in the fight to achieve fairness and equality for women in Nevada and throughout our nation.

Contact Harry Reid at http://reid.senate.gov/