View source for Interdepartmental Committee on the Status of Women

The '''Interdepartmental Committee on the Status of Women''' ('''ICSW''') was established by [[John F. Kennedy]], by [[Executive Order 11126]], dated November 1, 1963 and as amended by [[Executive Order 11221]] of May 8, 1965. It was an interdepartmental committee within the [[Women's Bureau]], [[Department of Labor]], and was terminated by [[Executive Order 12050]] of April 4, 1978.

The committee was established to assure effective and continuing leadership in advancing the status of women. The Committee evaluated the progress of federal agencies in this field; served as a clearinghouse and activities related to improving conditions of special interest to women; stimulated cooperation among federal agencies, state and local governments, state commissions on the status of women, and public and private organizations; encouraged research on factors affecting the status of women in education, home and community activities, employment, social insurance, taxes, civil and political rights, and labor legislation.

The committee was composed of the [[United States Secretary of Labor|Secretary of Labor]], who chaired the committee; the [[Secretary of State]]; the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]; the [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]]; the [[United States Secretary of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture]]; the [[United States Secretary of Commerce|Secretary of Commerce]]; the [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare]]; the Director of the [[United States Office of Personnel Management|Office of Personnel Management]]; the Chairman of the [[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]]; and an Assistant Secretary of Labor, designated by the Secretary of Labor. The Director of the Women's Bureau, Department of Labor, served as executive vice chairperson of the committee. The Committee met at least twice a year.

[[Catherine Shipe East]] was appointed executive secretary of the committee.<ref>''From Suffrage to the Senate: An Encyclopedia of American Women in Politics'', Volume 1, By Suzanne O'Dea Schenken</ref>