This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The best way to grow the American economy is to give women the tools they need to succeed, including equal pay and affordable child care, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told a group of Latino business people Monday in Salt Lake City.
"For us to expand opportunity and build prosperity in America, we must unleash the full power of women, of America's women," said Pelosi, the former House speaker, accepting an award from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "We must empower women with the tools to succeed for ourselves and our country."
Pelosi said women have told her what they need is access to "quality affordable child care so they can balance home and work," paid sick leave, equal pay for equal work and a higher minimum wage.
It is ridiculous to think, she said, that women wouldn't be paid the same as men for doing the same work — a wage gap that is even higher for Latino women — and noted that 60 percent of those making minimum wage are women.
Pelosi, who received the Excellence in Leadership award from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, also criticized opponents of the Democrats' immigration-reform proposal.
"To reject the bill is not who we are as a country," she said. "Our nation was built on the shoulders of generations of immigrants who came here with little more than hopes and dreams to build a better future for themselves and their families. … Every immigrant who comes here makes America more American."
Pelosi said she is also certain that President Barack Obama will take executive action to prevent some deportations.
"I know President Obama will grant our families administrative relief before the year is out so they can have a level of confidence they will not face the pain of unnecessary separation," she said. "It is an action that will happen. It must be done."
Obama said in an interview with NBC this month that he is putting off any administrative action on deportations until after the election, since it would be "more sustainable" then.
"What I'm saying is that I'm going to act because it's the right thing for the country," Obama told NBC. "But it's going to be more sustainable and more effective if the public understands what the facts are on immigration, what we've done on unaccompanied children and why it's necessary."
Twitter: @RobertGehrke