“The budget bill advancing through key committees in the U.S. House of Representatives is a tremendously welcome response to the most pressing issues facing America’s moms and families. From paid leave to child care to the Child Tax Credit to tax fairness and more, it takes major steps forward that will strengthen families, communities, businesses, and our economy. This is smart, responsive policy that America’s moms and parents applaud.

“Moms are thrilled that House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal’s plan is a historic tax cut for the middle class. It will not raise taxes for people earning less than $400,000 per year. It will, however, raise $2.2 trillion from the wealthy and corporations, which will provide a down payment on what they would pay if our country’s tax system were fair. America needs a tax system in which the wealthiest individuals and corporations contribute fairly to make our country stronger and more successful.

“The Committee’s mark-up was a historic, significant, and very welcome step on the road to paid family/medical leave for all working people in this country. During and after the pandemic, working people need paid family/medical leave so they can recover from serious illness and care for family members in crisis, or welcome a new child, without sacrificing their financial security. This win-win-win policy doesn’t just boost our families, but also our businesses and economy.

“America’s moms are grateful for Chairman Neal’s leadership. He has been a fierce, unwavering champion for the care infrastructure families, business, our economy and our country need. And we are grateful for the strategic guidance of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose skilled, resolute leadership has led us through great challenges that have been compounded by the pandemic. Moms commend House Democrats for extending the expanded Child Tax Credit through 2025 as a step to making it permanent. It is already dramatically reducing child poverty in this country.”

-Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising

“At a time when 80% of working people in our country have no paid family leave through their employers and 60% have no paid medical leave to recover from serious illness through employer-sponsored disability insurance, the robust care infrastructure the House Ways and Means Committee advanced is long overdue. We are especially pleased that its paid leave plan will cover nearly all working people, and cover leave to address a range of needs with an average wage replacement of 2/3 of income and a progressive wage replacement rate that allows workers with the lowest incomes to earn 85 % of their wages. This plan sets the bar that the U.S. Senate should meet and surpass in the budget reconciliation package. Robust, comprehensive, fully funded paid leave will advance economic and racial justice, lift our economy and businesses, and boost moms and families, including women of color who continue to experience compounded economic and health harms due to structural racism.

“Thanks to the House Ways and Means Committee, we are closer to the day when no worker has to miss a baby’s first smile or a parent’s last breath. That is long overdue.”

-Statement of Ruth Martin, Senior Vice President and Chief Workplace Justice Officer, MomsRising

“We applaud the Ways and Means Committee’s mark-up, as well, for putting us on the road to universal child care. The House Education & Labor Committee also made a historic investment in child care. Both are major steps toward making high-quality, affordable child care a reality for millions of children -- and we are counting on the U.S. Senate to complete the transformative change we need.”

-Statement of Nina Perez, National Director, Early Learning, MomsRising