DENVER (NOV. 23, 2016) – The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) is honoring Senator Rollie Heath as its 2016 Legislator of the Year for his leading role on issues supporting women and children, including closing the pay gap for women.

The award will be given at the CWBA’s Annual Legislator Appreciation Breakfast on Dec. 6, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. at the Denver Athletic Club, 1325 Glenarm Place in Denver. Sen. Heath, D-Boulder, will deliver the keynote address.

Throughout his dedicated eight years of legislative service, Senator Heath served as a stalwart champion on issues impacting women and children.  From sponsoring legislation to creating multiple workforce pathways, stimulating job growth and enhancing small business development to his driving efforts to increase state support for K-12 and higher education funding, Senator Heath consistently understood the interrelated value of these components working in tandem to increase every citizen’s ability to reach their individual goals and aspirations.

In 2016, Sen. Heath sponsored legislation to establish a Pay Equity Commission to focus on closing the pay gap. In 2013, the latest year for which data are available, Colorado women working full time earned 80 percent of what men working full time did. Though the pay equity legislation was unsuccessful in 2016, the CWBA and like-minded legislators continue to work to close the pay gap.

Heath has a long history as a public servant and businessman, including serving as an officer in the U.S. Army; co-founding the manufacturing company Ponderosa Industries; and winning election to the Colorado Senate in 2008. Heath’s business experience contributed to his sense that pay equity is important.

“You make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity,” he said. “And once they get into the workforce you would hope that they get paid what they deserve based on merit.”

Heath will leave the Colorado Legislature in January because of term limits but plans to continue his public service in the area of education.

“The most important role of government is educating folks,” he said. 

”Pay equity is not just a women’s issue, it is a community issue that requires a community-wide effort and leaders like Senator Rollie Heath,” said Sarah Chase-McRorie, President of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association. “While there is still so much work ahead to fight gender-based pay discrimination, Senator Heath’s support of pay equity has highlighted women as equal and critical players in Colorado’s economy and gives pay equity advocates like the CWBA stronger footing to continue the fight.”

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) is the largest specialty bar association in Colorado and has the mission of advancing women as leaders in the law.  It not only promotes the rights of women in the legal profession but outside the law and across the entire state of Colorado. The CWBA’s activities include lobbying on behalf of women and children.

### 

PHOTO ATTACHED: Sen. Rollie Heath

EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Event Details:
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016
7:30 – 8:45 AM
Denver Athletic Club, 1325 Glenarm Place, Denver
$65 per person | $220 for group of four

All proceeds from this fundraiser support the CWBA Lobbyist Fund, therefore no portion of ticket sales or other donations are tax deductible. 

Register: http://www.cwba.org/event-2358164