Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) will welcome Dr. Jill Biden, the Second Lady of the United States and wife of Vice President Joe Biden, as a special guest and honoree at his 4th annual Women's Luncheon on November 17.

The event serves as an annual celebration of local women, their accomplishments and contributions to Rhode Island, and benefits Congressman Cicilline's campaign.

Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, Governor-elect Gina Raimondo, Secretary of State-elect Nellie Gorbea, Year Up Executive Director Meghan Hughes, and Connie Howes, former president and CEO of Women & Infants Hospital, will also be honored at the event.

Cicilline has been an advocate for women's rights. He is a strong supporter of the House Democrats' "When Women Succeed, America Succeeds" economic agenda. He is a cosponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment, the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Family Medical Insurance Leave Act. In Congress, he has fought to protect access to full reproductive healthcare for women.

Cicilline has helped secure funding for programs that provide support for victims of domestic violence and women's healthcare. Cicilline has worked to bring federal resources back to Rhode Island, including $512,411 in Title X Family Planning Services funds to the Rhode Island Department of Health, $241,139 in transitional housing assistance grants for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and $957,514 in STOP Violence Against Women grant funding.

Cicilline has also cosponsored legislation that has become law, including the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (H.R. 11), the Protect Our Kids Act of 2011 (H.R. 3653), and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (H.R. 812).

For more information about the 4th Annual Women's Luncheon, please contact Jeff Larivee: jeff@rollagroup.com.