Congratulations Moms! Thanks to your help, working mothers and women are going to have better odds of being able to collect unemployment compensation when they lose their jobs. As previously detailed in a blog and emails to you, the majority of states have unemployment eligibility requirements that do not allow people looking for part-time work, or people who have left their jobs because of compelling family circumstances to collect these important benefits. But the recently passed and signed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (a/k/a/ “the stimulus bill”) included the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act which will provide states with incentive grants to change their programs and enact important reforms that will make sure that more women and working mothers will be able to collect unemployment benefits in the future.

MomsRising members sent over 44,000 letters to Congress on this important issue. You helped create a tidal wave of support for this bill, and ensured its inclusion and passage in the ARRA. Now more moms who can only work part-time because they need to care for their children can take part in this safety net. So can women who need to move because of a spouse’s mandatory job transfer, who have to leave their jobs to care for sick relatives, and who need to quit work to escape from domestic violence can also receive benefits. We’re only asking for what’s fair and just in today’s world … and thanks to you, now it’s a reality! Hats off to all you righteous moms out there who take action on all these important issues.