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Community initiatives are highlights of State Rep. Robin Shackleford’s 2015 legislative agenda

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INDIANAPOLIS – During the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly, State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) is focusing on several bills that would positively impact House constituents in Indiana House District 98 while improving the lives of Hoosiers statewide.

Meeting with constituents in her community has influenced Rep. Shackleford to concentrate on legislation that would assist in increasing economic opportunities for women, eliminating food deserts, assisting at-risk students and their parents, developing disadvantaged areas, and improving low voter turnout.

House Bill 1172 establishes a grant program that provides women with innovative on-the-job training to assist them in reaching high demand, nontraditional positions of employment in safe work environments. The proposed legislation requires businesses to have an “equal pay certification” if they have a contract with the state, ensuring women are paid equally.

“Wall Street has deemed Indiana the 6th worst state for women in the nation,” noted Shackleford. “Approximately 112,000 (22 percent) of Hoosier girls aged 6-17 live below the poverty line. Additionally, the poverty rate for women and girls is the 25th highest in the nation at 16.8 percent.”

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Indiana was given a D+ and ranked 37th in the country for women’s employment and earnings. Currently, Hoosier women earn only 73 cents for every dollar a man earns. Women in Indiana rank 33rd in educational attainment and 41st in executive positions and unemployment.

“These statistics are unacceptable. I believe Indiana is more than capable of doing better than those figures reflect,” said Shackleford.

House Bill 1256 establishes the small business and grocer investment fund. The fund’s objective is to motivate grocers to bring fresh, reasonably priced, and nutritious food options to underserved, high-need communities located in “food deserts.”

“The east side of Indianapolis is one of the worst “food deserts” in the nation,” explained Shackleford. “The majority of the residents here are budget-focused citizens with very limited funds for food shopping.

“The devastating outcome is an abundance of convenience store shopping for grocery needs. Limiting exposure to fresh produce and healthy alternatives to packaged and processed foods results in an increase in unhealthy food consumption and lifestyles,” she added.

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