Judith Lichtman

Judith L. Lichtman "has been a guiding and influential force in women's movement for more than 25 years. As President of the National Partnership for Women & Families, her commitment, vision and talent as an attorney and advocate have made a profound difference for women and families across the United States.

"Lichtman vividly recalls that she went to law school because "being a lawyer meant having a license to be an activist." After receiving her law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1965, Lichtman worked at the Urban Coalition, at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and as legal advisor to the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In 1974, Lichtman became the Executive Director and first paid staff person for the Women's Legal Defense Fund (WLDF), which became the National Partnership for women & Families in 1998.

"Under Lichtman's leadership, the National Partnership has been at the forefront of every major piece of legislation related to women and families for the past 25 ears. Founded as a small volunteer group, the National Partnership has grown to a national organization with thousands of members has become one of the country's most influential political forces, shaping national policy through its advocacy, lobbying, litigation, and public education. Lichtman's vision and the National Partnership's strength have resulted in the passage of some of the most important legal protections for American women and families, including the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. In 1996, the National Partnership helped shaped key provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that make it easer for women and their families to get and keep health coverage.

"More recently, Lichtman has served as the "leading voice" for more than 185 health care and consumer organizations supporting passage of the Patient's Bill of Rights Act (PBRA). Introduced into Congress in 1998 and reintroduced in 1999, the PBRA is a comprehensive health care reform proposal that would require health plans to provide quality care.

"Civic and legal organizations, business and labor leaders, and others have recognized Lichtman for her strategic abilities, political savvy, effectiveness in creating powerful and diverse coalitions, and a tireless commitment to building a truly just society. President Clinton called Lichtman "a remarkable national treasure," and Washingtonian Magazine has identified her as one of Washington, DC's most powerful women...

"Lichtman lives in Washington, DC with her husband Eliott. They have two daughters, Sarah and Julia." 


 * Former Chair, International Women's Health Coalition
 * Founder or Advisor, Campaign for America's Future
 * Director, Moriah Fund
 * Vice Chair, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights