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Statement

Moms Leaders Thank Congress for Moving to Avert Federal Government Shutdown, Demand U.S. Senate Pass Robust Coronavirus Relief Package Now

September 30, 2020
Workplace Justice, Paid Sick Days, Paid Family & Medical Leave, Reproductive Justice, Early Care & Education, Federal Budget, Health Care, Immigration

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of leaders of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the U.S. Senate passage of a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government open until December 11, 2020:

“In the midst of a pandemic that has taken hundreds of thousands of American lives and is accelerating, rather than coming under control, a federal government shutdown would be devastating. So we are pleased that today the U.S. Senate passed a Continuing Resolution that will keep the U.S. government open through December 11, 2020. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to do the same last week. President Trump should immediately sign it into law.”

-Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO, MomsRising

“The most urgent priority now facing Congress is the next COVID-19 relief package. The health and economic toll from the pandemic is staggering, and moms demand that U.S. Senate Republicans NOT spend their time confirming a U.S. Supreme Court justice who will take away our health care, our right to choose abortion, and our civil rights and liberties but instead focus on passing a robust pandemic relief bill that:

  • Reinstates the $600 per week unemployment boost, which can prevent hunger and homelessness;
  • Stabilizes and supports the child care industry;
  • Ensures all workers have paid family and medical leave and can earn paid sick days, during this crisis and after it ends;
  • Guarantees that vital nutrition programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and free school meals are available to all who need them and increases benefits to address the increased need;
  • Provides more adequate funds for cities and states to ensure essential services and prevent unemployment from getting even worse, including funds for K-12 schools so they can safely and adequately function – virtually or in-person – in the school year that has just begun; and
  • Makes sure immigrant families have access to the programs they need to make ends meet."

-Statement of Elyssa Schmier, national director, national budget and taxes, MomsRising

“The U.S. House of Representatives passed a coronavirus relief package months ago and updated it this week. America’s moms support the new House HEROES bill, which includes the provisions the country is counting on to get us through the pandemic. Millions of families are in crisis and we need adequate, meaningful relief. The delays have caused grave harm and must not continue.”

-Statement of Ruth Martin, senior vice president and chief workplace justice officer, MomsRising

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.