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News release

A Care Bear for Senator Manchin from West Virginians Who Need Paid Leave

September 21, 2021
Workplace Justice, Paid Family & Medical Leave

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

CHARLESTON, WV – West Virginia moms and allies delivered a care package to U.S. Senator Joe Manchin yesterday to thank him and his staff for all their hard work looking out for the state’s families, and to encourage the powerful Senator to get paid leave over the finish line.  

The coalition that organized the delivery includes MomsRising, Paid Leave for All, Main Street Alliance, West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy, Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia, Team for West Virginia Children, Planned Parenthood, and Rattle the Windows – all of which have West Virginia members who support paid leave to care for a new child or recover from their own or a family member’s serious illness.

Comprehensive paid leave is included in the budget reconciliation that Congress is considering right now, as are funding for child care and the expanded Child Tax Credit, both of which are high priorities for West Virginia working families.

Yesterday’s delivery to Senator Manchin’s Charleston office included an oversized care bear wearing a t-shirt that says: Paid Leave Works for West Virginia. It also included a collection of dozens of stories from West Virginians that underscore the need for paid leave, as well as:

  • Building blocks, because access to care is the foundation of a family's success.

  • Lifesavers, because the Build Back Better package saves Working West Virginians. 

  • An array of cards because big moments in life deserve support but without security, it's hard for working West Virginia families. 

  • Diapers, which parents are using their expanded Child Tax Credit funds to purchase, because diapers are a big expense for many families.

  • Pepperoni rolls, which are vital for a day of hard work to help West Virginians.

  • Dice, because no family should have to bet on their health or job.

In addition, MomsRising and Paid Leave for All ran in-stadium digital ads at the West Virginia University football game last Saturday that said: There are some things we can’t tackle on our own. Visit PaidLeaveForAll.org to learn more.

 

To interview one of the West Virginia advocates who participated in the delivery, for more photos of the care package delivered to Senator Manchin’s office, or to be connected to a West Virginia family that has struggled without paid leave, contact: Kayla Young at Kayla@mainstreetalliance.org

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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.