#BlackWomenAtWork, Trump Admin., Offices of Women's Health

THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY.•• FIRST, THIS EQUAL PAY DAY, BLACK WOMEN SHARE THEIR STORIES OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE.

THEN, HILLARY CLINTON REEMERGES TO CRITICIZE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RECORD ON WOMEN.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE FEDERAL OFFICES OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AND HOW THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY, A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, BLACK WOMEN AT WORK.

AS EQUAL PAY DAY NEARS, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE UNIQUE ISSUES WOMEN OF COLOR, AND PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN, FACE IN THE WORKPLACE.

EQUAL PAY DAY IS THE AMOUNT OF EXTRA TIME WOMEN MUST WORK UNTIL, TO EARN THE SAME AMOUNT AS MEN EARNED IN THE PRIOR YEAR.

THIS YEAR IT'S APRIL 4TH.

ACCORDING TO THE INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN'S POLICY RESEARCH, WHITE WOMEN MAKE 78 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR A WHITE MAN MAKES.

BLACK WOMEN MAKE 65 CENTS.

HIGH PROFILE INCIDENTS OF BLACK WOMEN BEING REBUKED WHILE ON THE JOB HAVE SPAWNED THE VIRAL HASHTAG "BLACK WOMEN AT WORK."

FIRST, BILL O'REILLY APOLOGIZED FOR MAKING A DISMISSIVE COMMENT ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE WATERS' HAIR.

AND WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY SEAN SPICER WAS ACCUSED OF "LOSING HIS COOL" AT JOURNALIST APRIL RYAN.

IN A CONTENTIOUS INTERACTION, HE TOLD RYAN TO "STOP SHAKING HER HEAD" AS SHE ASKED HIM HOW THE WHITE HOUSE WOULD IS WORKING TO CHANGE ITS IMAGE AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF BAD NEWS.

BLACK WOMEN TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE INCIDENTS OF DISCRIMINATION.

ADVOCATES SEE THESE ATTITUDES AS A BARRIER TOWARDS ECONOMIC EQUALITY.

SO, CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON HOW SHOULD THE U.S.

ADDRESS THE UNIQUE SITUATIONS THAT BLACK WOMEN FIND OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE?

>> SHORT ANSWER, BONNIE, BY FOCUSING ON THEM INSTEAD OF ASSUMING THAT WHATEVER SMALL PROGRESS, WHITE WOMEN MAKE, WILL WHITEWASH ON TO BLACK WOMEN.

>> WELL, FIRST BLACK WOMEN NEED TO BE CAREFUL THEY ARE NOT BEING HYPOCRITIC AND WE NEED TO TREAT EACH OTHER SERIOUSLY AND LOOK AT BLACK WOMEN LIKE WE LOOK AT DAUGHTERS OF EVERY COLOR.

>> I THINK EDUCATION IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MAKE THEM AWARE THIS IS THE CASE AND WE NEED TO WATCH OUR STATE LAWS THAT ARE BEING ROLLED BACK MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO BRING ALLEGATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE BASED ON RACE AND GENDER.

>> TEACH WOMEN OF ALL COLORS TO STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES.

IN THE CASE OF BLACK WOMEN SHOW HIDDEN FIGURES.

>> DO YOU EXPECT ANY SIGNIFICANT ACTION OUT OF THIS WHITE HOUSE AND I WILL ASK YOU, TOO, DON'T GET UPSET, TO HELP BLACK WOMEN REACH PAY EQUITY?

65 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR IS CLEARLY A LOT WORSE THAN 78 CENTS.

>> YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT IS GOING OUT OF HIS WAY TO TRY TO SHOW BLACK PEOPLE THAT HE IS REALLY FOR THEM.

WE HAD OUR OFFICERS FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

IT'S ALL SHOW.

HIS BUDGET MUCH MORE HURTS BLACK PEOPLE NOT TO MENTION BLACK WOMEN MUCH MORE.

A LOT OF WHAT HE IS DOING LIKE HIS EXECUTIVE ORDERS ARE NOT ADDRESSED AT DOING ANYTHING BUT INSTRUCTING AGENCIES TO DO WHAT THEY COULD ALREADY DO.

WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING BUT SHOW STUFF.

YOU SAW IT IN WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH THIS PAST WEEK.

AND YOU CERTAINLY ARE SEEING IT WITH HIS SPEAKING UP ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE WHENEVER HE CAN.

>> HBCU'S.

>> NO MONEY.

SO YOU CAN SPEAK UP AND YET DO NOTHING FOR THEM NOT THAT EASILY FOOLED.

>> I MEAN, THE BEST THING HE CAN DO FOR ALL BLACK IS ENSURE THAT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE OUR WAGES AND PART OF THAT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE CAN CUT BUDGETS AND DUPLICATION OF JOBS AND AT THE STATE LEVEL AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STATES, ROLLBACK OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING THAT HIT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO BE A BARBER OR A MAKEUP ARTIST.

AND THE CONVERSATION -- >> ON THE OTHER HAND IF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WANT TO REACH PAY EQUITY WITH WHITE MEN THEY WILL NOT DO IT BEING BARBERS OR HAIR STYLISTS.

THEY WILL DO IT BY GOING TO WALL STREET AND BECOMING LAWYERS AND DOCTORS.

AND SO I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW, ROLLING BACK REGULATIONS SO THEY CAN BECOME LOWER PAID WORKERS IS GOING TO REALLY HELP THEM AT ALL.

>> SO YOU KNOW, I AM AHE NOT GOING TO SAY THERE IS NOT A PAY GAP IN GENERAL BUT I WILL CHALLENGE THE FACT THAT'S 80 CENTS ACCORDING TO SOME OF THE NUMBERS.

WHEN -- LET'S TALK ABOUT A MYTH OF THE WAGE GAP WHEN YOU CONTROL FOR CERTAIN FACTORS DISAPPEARS SIGNIFICANTLY.

DOES IT EXIST FOR BLACK WOMEN?

I AM SURE IT DOES.

SOME OF THE ONUS IS ON THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE CAREERS THEY GO AFTER.

>> I KNOW YOU WANT TO JUMP IN AND INFORM US SINCE YOU ARE ON THE INSIDE.

WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION DOING FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN?

>> IT IS NOT JUST FOR SHOW.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT IS IN HIS HEART.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN HIS HEART.

I DO KNOW FOR THE INTERACTION I'VE HAD HAD AND SEVERAL BLACK GROUPS AND BLACK INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD WITH HIM THROUGH THE YEARS THEY WILL TELL YOU THE MAN IS SINCERE.

HE WANTS TO ACHIEVE FOR EVERYBODY WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON MINORITIES AND TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.

WHAT IVANKA WILL BE WORKING ON WILL NOT ONLY HELP WHITE WOMEN IT WILL HELP BLACK WOMEN, TOO.

>> THE TWO BILLS THAT HE SIGNED NOT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THEY WERE TOUTED AS EXECUTIVE ORDERS BUT THEY WERE HE WAS SIGNING BILLS APPROVED BY CONGRESS TO PUSH WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR INTO STEM JOBS, AS THE DELEGATE SAID HAD ZERO DOLLARS BEHIND IT.

>> THOSE WERE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

>> ZERO DOLLARS SO FAR.

MOST HAVE BEEN AIMED AT ROLLING BACK REGULATIONS TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS WHICH ULTIMATELY IS WHAT HELPS EVERYBODY.

GOOD JOBS NOT THE LOW PAYING JOBS CREATED OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

>> DEBRA?

>> WOW.

I MEAN, I HEAR ALL THIS, I GOT TO TELL YOU I'M NOT SURE I CARE ABOUT WHAT IS IN HIS HEART AS WHAT THE ACTIONS ARE.

LIKE GEORGE BUSH AND I LOOKED INTO PUTIN'S EYES.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAW IN HIS EYES.

I CARE WHAT ACTIONS ARE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE ACTIONS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION SO FAR ARE SHOWING THE CONCERN ABOUT WOMEN WHITE WOMEN OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN.

AND I CERTAINLY THINK WHAT SEAN SPICER DID IS HORRIBLE.

AND I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE SAID THAT TO BRIAN WILLIAMS.

STOP SHAKING YOUR HEAD.

>> I NEED TO JUMP IN.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ONLY BEEN 70 DAYS AND SECONDLY MORE IMPORTANTLY SEAN SPICER IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TWIT WHEN IT COMES TO INSULTING PEOPLE.

ASK JONATHAN CARL HE WOULD TELL YOU.

>> THE WOMAN FROM POLITICO WHO HE CALLED AN IDIOT.

>> HE INSULTS EVERYBODY AND NOT WITHSTANDING HER PERFORMANCE -- >> WHICH IS HYSTERICAL.

>> I WANT HIM TO GET THE SUPER SOAKER AND BRING IT OUT THERE.

HE IS KIND OF A TWIT AND INSULTS EVERYBODY SHE SHOULD TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT THAT HE TREATS HER LIKE THE MEN.

FROM WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE TO WOMEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE HILLARY CLINTON EMERGED FROM, IN HER WORDS, "THE WOODS" THIS WEEK AND MADE HER MOST POLITICAL REMARKS SINCE LOSING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

AT CONFERENCE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL BUSINESSWOMEN OF CALIFORNIA CLINTON ENCOURAGED THE AUDIENCE TO KEEP UP THE RESISTANCE.

CLINTON SAID THE DEFEAT OF THE REPUBLICAN HEALTHCARE BILL WAS A VICTORY FOR AMERICANS AND SHE WAS APPALLED BY A PICTURE OF AN ALL-MALE GROUP DISCUSSING WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE.

CLINTON ALSO CRITICIZED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS LACK OF DIVERSITY AND ONLY FOUR WOMEN APPOINTED TO CABINET POSITIONS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP PAINTED A DIFFERENT PICTURE WHEN HE SPOKE TO A WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PANEL AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE PRESIDENT SAID HE'S PROUD OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF WOMEN IN HIS ADMINISTRATION AND THEY ARE STRIVING TO MAKE AMERICA A PLACE WHERE WOMEN CAN SUCCEED.

HE ALSO PRAISED FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, WHO WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK MAKING A NUMBER OF RARE APPEARANCES.

WHERE WOMEN CAN SUCCEED.

HE ALSO PRAISED FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP, WHO WAS IN ATTENDANCE AND IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK MAKING A NUMBER OF RARE APPEARANCES.

THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED IVANKA TRUMP WILL TAKE AN UNPAID FEDERAL JOB ACTING AS HER FATHER'S ASSISTANT.••AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE FOR A PRESIDENTIAL FAMILY MEMBER.

>> HILLARY IS BACK IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.

IS THAT GOOD OR BAD?

>> I THINK IT'S FINE AND I THINK SHE WILL HAVE INTERESTING THINGS TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION.

I HAD ONE OF MY LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FRIENDS SAY SHE IS NOT HAPPY SHE IS BACK.

SHE WANTS TO SEE BOTH HILLARY AND NANCY PELOSI RETIRE AND IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW GENERATION.

I THOUGHT IT WAS STRIKING THIS PERSON WHO WORKED WITH THEM AND LOVES THEM THINKS IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO GO AWAY.

>> HILLARY IS THE BEST KNOWN WOMAN IN AMERICA.

SHE STILL HAS A LOT OF STUFF LEFT WITH HER.

SHE ALMOST WON A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

SHE DID NOT HOLD ANYTHING BACK THIS PAST WEEK.

SHE SHOULD BE OUT THERE.

SHE IS A LEGITIMATE SPOKESPERSON.

>> WELL, AND I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING IS IVANKA TRUMP.

AND I THINK THE BACKLASH WE'VE SEEN FROM THE TWITTER HASHTAGS AGAINST HER IS BECAUSE SHE IS A VERY POTENT, POWERFUL, VERY ARTICULATE YOUNG WOMEN WHO DOES NOT JUST ESPOUSE CONSERVATIVE BELIEFS BUT BLEEDS INTO THE DEMOCRATIC BELIEFS.

>> LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION HOW POWERFUL SHE IS.

WHAT HAS SHE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF HER FATHER FINANCIALLY FOR WHICH IS REALLY THE MOST -- YOU CAN SIGN ALL THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS YOU WANT SAYING HOW GREAT WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR ARE.

BUT IF YOU DO NOT PUT MONEY BEHIND IT, YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING.

>> WELL, AND YOU KNOW AS TO ANNE'S POINT THIS IS EARLY ON IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

BUT THE IDEA THAT CONSERVATIVES ARE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE PAID LEAVE AND FAMILY LEAVE I'M YOUNG BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER THIS IN PAST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS BEING AN ISSUE.

AND SHE BROUGHT IT TO THE FOREFRONT DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

AND NOW IT'S BECOMING PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

AND IT'S HERE TO STAY.

SO NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO FEDERAL MANDATES AND STATE MANDATES LIKE PERSONAL CARE ACCOUNTS THAT CONSERVATIVES CAN GET BEHIND SHE IS POWERFUL AND THE LEFT IS VERY SCARED OF HER.

>> IF SHE IS THAT POWERFUL I INVITED HER TO DISCUSS WITH HER FATHER AND REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THE LATEST BILL THAT WAS PROPOSED THAT CUTS OUT MATERNITY BENEFITS FOR WOMEN.

>> AND MATERNITY LEAVE.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE?

NOT PAY FOR PREGNANCY.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE.

IT'S GREAT TO SAY PAID FAMILY LEAVE BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR YOU TO HAVE THAT BABY.

WE HAVE AN ACT OUT THERE BY THE DEMOCRATS AND WE DO HAVE REQUIREMENTS ON THAT.

COMING TO HILLARY AND NANCY, I FIND IT VERY, VERY INTERESTING AT THAT TIME PEOPLE WANT THEM TO GO AWAY WHEN THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL WOMEN WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR HISTORY THAT ARE OUR LEADERS THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CANNOT USE YOUNGER WOMEN AND SHOULDN'T PROMOTE BRINGING THEM UP THE LADDER.

I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THEM GO AWAY.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO SEE THEM GO AWAY?

>> THE KEYWORD IS PROPOSED.

BILLS LIKE THAT WILL NOT NEIGHBORING IT THROUGH -- MAKE IT THROUGH.

IVANKA GOT HER KIDS SETTLED AND WORKED THROUGH THE ETHICS PROCESS AND SHE IS AN EMPLOYEE.

THERE WAS NOT A LOT SHE COULD DO TO FORCE THE ISSUE OF FINANCES UNTIL THIS WEEK.

SO AS AN NON--- HE.

>> AS A NONPAID EMPLOYEE SUBJECT TO ETHICS RULES IS SHE GOING TO GET INTO ETHICAL TROUBLE THE WAY HER FATHER AND MANY OF THE CABINET MEMBERS HAVE?

>> I BET NOT.

THEY ARE BEING CAREFUL AND SHE IS MARRIED TO A VERY SMART LAWYER.

YOU TALK ABOUT POWER YES WE DO NOT HAVE AS MANY FEMALE CABINET SECRETARIES, KELLYANNE CONWAY AND IVANKA TRUMP AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO GO AGAINST THEM.

>> HAVING BOTH THERE THEN I DO NOT WANT TO SEE KELLYANNE PROMOTING IVANKA'S SHOES.

>> I KNOW IVANKA BECAUSE OF THIS TRUMP HOTEL IT WAS MY BILL AND NEVER THOUGHT TRUMP WOULD GET IT.

SHE IS REALLY -- DON'T BLAME IT ON ME -- SHE IS A QUITE TALENTED YOUNG WOMAN AND IF HE KEY PLOYS HER WELL -- DEPLOYS HER WELL, SHE CAN DO HIM GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT, BUT WHAT 450EU7BD -- I'M CURIOUS, WHAT BEHIND IT HAS ANY EFFECT?

BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO KNOW OF A WOMAN WHO SERVED UNDER A GREEN REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN HIS CABINET WHO WAS CALLED BECAUSE IVANKA WAS SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO A MOVIE STAR WHO IS VERY INVOLVED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND SHE WENT TO HIM TO ASK FOR PEOPLE TO NOMINATE TO THE EPA WHO WERE GREEN REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY OF THEM OUT THERE ANYMORE.

AND SHE WAS ASKED IF SHE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A DEPUTY POSITION AND SHE SAID WELL IT DEPENDS WHO IT WAS.

BUT SHE WAS LOBBYING FOR A GREEN REPUBLICAN.

AND WHO HE APPOINTED TO HEAD THE EPA IS HARDLY THAT.

SO THAT SPOKE VOLUMES TO ME ABOUT IVANKA'S LACK OF CLOUT WITH HER FATHER.

>> I THINK HE IS MUCH MORE GREEN THAN A NORMAL REPUBLICAN APPOINTMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> PRUITT?

>> NO.

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT PRUITT BUT ZINGY AND THE TRUMP CHILDREN WERE FOR HIM.

SHE IS GOING TO WIN BATTLES AND LOSE SOME BATTLES.

SO BE IT.

>> IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY ZINCY IS NOT BEING SEEN AS GREEN.

LET'S PRESERVE THEM AS FEDERAL LANDS AND LEASE THEM OUT TO THE OIL AND THE COAL COMPANIES AND DESTROY THEM IN THE PROCESS.

>> THEY ARE NOT -- >> HE IS SEEN AS BETTER THAN OTHERS THEY WERE CONSIDERING.

>> WHEN YOU GO -- YEAH, I THINK THEY SEE AT A SCALE OF 0-100, IF SOMEBODY IS 100% ANTI, MAYBE HE IS ONLY 99%.

>> MUCH LOWER THAN THAT.

>> BUT THE PROBLEM WITH HIS APPOINTEES REALLY HAS WASHED OVER TO HIS FAMILY.

AND THEY TRUST THEM LESS.

LOOK, IF THIS NEPOTISM IS A VERY BAD DEAL.

THE REASON WE HAVE TO BE AGAINST NEPOTISM IS YOU CANNOT TREAT YOUR FAMILY THE SAME WAY YOU WILL TREAT AN EMPLOYEE.

ARE YOU GOING TO FIRE THEM?

YOU HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE TO THE SAME STANDARD THAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS HELD TO.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE EVEN IF YOU INTEND THAT YOU WILL DO THAT WHEN YOU GIVE MAJOR POSITIONS TO YOUR FAMILY.

>> WE SURVIVED THE KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION.

>> AND WE HAVE A BILL THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ANYMORE.

>> AND BECAUSE AMERICA WAS OFFENDED BY IT THEY OUTLAWED IT.

>> I WANTED TO SAY IN A WAY I KNOW ON THE STATE LEVEL BUT I COME FROM A POLITICAL FAMILY WE WORK TOGETHER MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS GOVERNOR AND WE WORKED ON HIS CAMPAIGN IT IS A FAMILY AND WE CONSIDERED IT A FAMILY BUSINESS AS FAR AS SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, AND WE ALL BELIEVED THE SAME THING.

HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH WE ADVISE IN PRIVATE WE BOUNCE THINGS OFF OF EACH OTHER IN PRIVATE AS A LOT OF FAMILIES DO, HIS ADMINISTRATION AS GOVERNOR HAD PEOPLE IN PLACE AND AROUND HIM WHO WERE PAID AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ADVICE THAT THEY WERE GIVING.

AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM WE ARE LOOKING AT NEPOTISM.

BUT THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE.

WHATSOEVER.

>> SURE THERE IS.

>> SURE THERE IS.

>> AND WHEN KELLYANNE SAYS ABOUT IVANKA'S SHOES AND GO DO THIS, HIS REACTION IS WELL, I'M REACTING AS A FATHER.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE ATALKING 2340RD STROM AND MY DAUGHTER BUT HE IS GETTING AS AS PRESIDENT OF THE -- TWEETING OUT AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> AND KELLY'S COMMENT WAS A SNARKY RESPONSE TO A STUPID QUESTION.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO JANUARY WHERE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAYS IT WOULD BE OK FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO APPOINT HIS CHILDREN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY DO WE NEED TO INSURE THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND SHE IS OPERATING AT A HIGH ETHICAL STANDARD?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT GOING BACK TO THE EXAMPLE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS AND I THINK IT GOES TO THE POINT THAT IVANKA TRUMP IS POWERFUL AND THE LEFT IS AFRAID OF HER.

>> BECAUSE WITH BOBBY KENNEDY WE GOT A RULE SAYING A PERSON CANNOT HAVE A PAID POSITION.

NOW WE ARE HAVING PEOPLE EVADE THE RULE BY TAKING UNPAID INFORMATION POSITIONS.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: WOMEN'S HEALTH AND THE FEDERAL BUDGET.

ONE AREA THAT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE SEVEN DIFFERENT OFFICES OF WOMEN'S HEALTH WITH THE NEW BUDGET.

THE SEVEN OFFICES OF WOMEN'S HEALTH DO NOT GARNER MUCH IF ANY PUBLICITY BUT THEY PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED ACTION.

EACH OF THE OFFICES EXISTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE FACT MEN AND WOMEN HAVE VERY DIFFERENT MEDICAL ISSUES AND RESPOND TO DRUGS AND SURGERIES DIFFERENTLY.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT HORMONES.

THE OFFICES WORK TO PERSUADE DRUG COMPANIES TO TEST PHARMACEUTICALS AND INSTRUMENTS IN TRIALS ON WOMEN AS WELL AS MEN AND MUCH MORE.

PHYLLIS GREEN BURGER IS THE SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AND HELPED WRITE THE LEGISLATION TO SETUP NIH'S OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH.

>> WE KNEW FROM OTHER WAYS THAT WOMEN WERE NOT NECESSARILY OR NOT SYSTEMICALLY INCLUDED IN CLINICAL TRIALS.

AND SO WHAT WE FOCUS ON INITIALLY WAS JUST MAKING SURE THAT WOMEN WERE INCLUDED IN CLINICAL TRIALS.

AND CONGRESS LOOKED AT ALL THE INSTITUTES TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE DOING ON WOMEN'S HEALTH QUOTE-UNQUOTE.

AND FRANKLY IT TURNED OUT THEY WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING.

>> AND NOW MORE THAN 25 YEARS SINCE THE OFFICE WAS SETUP, THERE ARE STILL CRITICAL ISSUES IT HAS NOT FIXED IN TERMS OF TESTING PHARMACEUTICALS ON WOMEN.

>> EVEN THOUGH WOMEN WERE BEING INCLUDED IN CLINICAL TRIALS, NUMBER ONE, THEY WERE INCLUDED IN PHASE THREE WHICH IS AFTER YOU TEST THE TOXICITY AND SAFETY WHICH WE OF COURSE WANTED THEM TO TEST BEFORE.

>> THE WOMEN'S HEALTH OFFICE AT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS A COMPLETELY DEFINITION.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN WORKING WITHIN THE FDA TO FOCUS ON SEX DIFFERENCES RESEARCH TO GET THE COMPANIES THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN THE CLINICAL TRIALS AND DOING SEX DIFFERENCES AND REPORTING IT.

>> AND THE OFFICE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAS A SLIGHTLY DEFINITION.

>> THEY WORKED A LOT ON HIV/AIDS, SEXUAL ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

RECENTLY THEY HAD APPROACHED ME I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH IT, LOOKING AT WOMEN AND ALZHEIMER'S.

>> THERE ARE ALSO OFFICES WITHIN THE AGENCY OF HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY AND THE HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND THE LIST GOES ON.

THE CDC OFFICE LOOKS AT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

THESE OFFICES LIKE ALL FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S HIRING FREEZE AND AWAIT WITH TREPIDATION HIS BUDGET PLAN TO FIND $53 BILLION WORTH OF SAVINGS TO SPEND ON DEFENSE.

TRUMP AND CONGRESS COULD DEFUND THESE OFFICES, WRITE FIVE OF THEM OUT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHICH IS WHERE THEY GET THEIR FUNDING OR CHANGE THEIR MANDATES TO ISSUES SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S OR HEART DISEASE.

Dr. WOOD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE PAM.

YOU AS FORMER HEAD OF THE OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AT THE FDA AND APOLOGIES TO PHYLLIS GREEN BURGER THE GROUP IS CALLED HEALTHY WOMEN.

HE WHICH YOU TALK IN TECHNICAL TERMS ABOUT AN OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH WITHIN THE FDA, I THINK MOST WOMEN WOULD SHUTDOWN AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT EXPLAIN HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO WOMEN AND TO MEN?

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THESE OFFICES ARE THINGS THAT CANNOT BE REPLACED BY SOMEONE ELSE DOING THE JOB BECAUSE THE ROLE IS COORDINATING PROJECTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OR THE GOVERNMENT OR TO SPECIFIC AGENCIES LIKE FDA OR NIH.

BUT THEY DO THINGS LIKE MAKE SURE THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES ARE DOING DIFFERENT PIECES AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

OR HEART DISEASE.

STARTING EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS SO THAT WOMEN RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE SYMPTOMS THEY MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING AND CALL 9-1-1.

OR THEY WORK ON MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING RESEARCH ON AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES AND GETTING THE BEST TREATMENT OUT TO WOMEN ON AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES WHICH DIS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT WOMEN.

AND WE WERE MAKING SURE THE COMPANIES WERE SUBMITTING DATA WITH WOMEN IN THEM BUT WE STARTED TO ANALYZE THAT DATA FOR SEX DIFFERENCES AND SEX AND RACE DIFFERENCES SO WE COULD FIND OUT WHETHER IT IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR WOMEN AND ALL WOMEN.

OR WHETHER PERHAPS THERE NEED TO BE DIFFERENT DOSES OR PERHAPS IT HAD DIFFERENT SIDE EFFECTS.

DON'T LET OUR HEALTH SYSTEM HAVE THE BENEFITS OF THAT INFORMATION THERE ARE MANY SEGMENTS THAT DO NOT BENEFIT.

MEN, WOMEN OF ALL STRIPES.

>> AND IN THE CURRENT BUDGET CLIMATE DO YOU THINK THESE OFFICES ARE AT RISK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT COULD WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE SEE THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT SECRETARY PRICE THINKS ABOUT A FOCUS AND A PRIORITY OF WOMEN'S HEALTH.

UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC RIGHT NOW GIVEN THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED AND ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> YOU KNOW THESE OFFICES ARE SO FAR BELOW THE RADAR THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO TELL, EXCEPT BY THE PRESIDENT'S ATTITUDE AND IT DOES SEEM TO ME THAT HE HAS WORK TO DO THAT HE COULD DO BY FUNDING THESE AGENCIES.

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO CONGRESS, THE FEDERAL AGENCIES WERE NOT REQUIRED TO DO MEN AND WOMEN.

AND NOW WE ARE GETTING TO WHERE WE NEED IT WITH PHARMACEUTICALS AND THEY STILL ARE NOT REQUIRED.

>> ALL RIGHT WE ARE OUT OF TIME THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION.

TO THE CONTRARY ANNOUNCES WE ARE ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR OUR SECOND ANNUAL ABOUT WOMEN AND GIRLS FILM 23E69 VAL.

FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE TO THE CONTRARY PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

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