Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd held the first of three roundtable discussions this morning at House of Mercy in Des Moines while unveiling his plan for putting women and families first. He was joined at the event by Eva Bunnell, the woman whose story helped motivate him to author the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has allowed an estimated 50 million workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a new child or a sick family member.

“Chris Dodd understands that women’s rights have progressed in the last 50 years, but much more remains to be done,” said Jennifer Lunsford, who serves on the Democratic State Central Committee and as chairwoman in Jefferson County. “I know he can work across the aisle to produce the policies that American women need.”

Although nearly half the American workforce is now made up of women and women are more likely to have an advanced degree, women continue to compete on an uneven playing field. Today, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar men earn and face unique challenges balancing the demands of work and family.