Background
While serving in the state senate, Irons was an active participant and leader in legislative committees including the Education, Insurance, Judiciary B, and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committees. She was an at-large member of the Bond Commission and Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children. Senator Irons has served on task forces including the Louisiana Women's Commission, the HIV/AIDS Commission, and the Council on Obesity Prevention and Management. Because of her belief that the rate of teenage pregnancy in Louisiana should be greatly reduced, Irons has actively worked with National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy State and Local Task Force. In 1995 she received the Alliance for Good Government's Legislator of the Year. She supported, along with Senator Don Cravins Sr., legislation to extend legal employment protection to homosexuals and lesbians. She encouraged young people to stay in school and to do their best academically. Home Box Office (HBO) honored Irons during Black History Month in February 2004 as one of 10 notable black women leaders in the "Hearing her voice, Telling her Story" competition. In 2001, Irons received the Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government. Family Circle Magazine featured Irons for her work to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy. A lifelong New Orleanian, Irons graduated from Booker T. Washington Senior High School in New Orleans, with honors. She received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Loyola University New Orleans and her juris doctor fromReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irons, Paulette 1952 births Living people African-American state legislators in Louisiana African-American women in politics Democratic Party Louisiana state senators Louisiana lawyers Loyola University New Orleans alumni Tulane University alumni Tulane University Law School alumni Women state legislators in Louisiana American women judges 21st-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American women