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Statement

Moms Are Scared. Families Are Hurting. President Trump Continues to Let Us Down.

March 11, 2020
Paid Sick Days, Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO of MomsRising, an on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on President Trump’s address on coronavirus tonight:

“Moms are scared. Families are hurting. And tonight we were angered as we watched President Trump utterly fail to adequately address the coronavirus pandemic. We may never have needed our government to step up with meaningful solutions more than we do now. But President Trump didn’t do that tonight.  

“Contrary to what the President said this evening, his administration has not taken effective, immediate action. We do not know the scope of the problem because we haven’t had access to sufficient testing or other resources. The shameful disinformation and outright lies by President Trump, distorting the truth about public health information including testing capacity, must end. We have heard from MomsRising members around the country who are sick with coronavirus symptoms, whose doctors want to test them but cannot, because tests are unavailable or being rationed. Moms know what’s really going on.

“We need the President to speak honestly to us and, most importantly, lift our nation’s health and economic stability. First and foremost, we need to hear detailed steps the federal government will take to address this public health crisis. You don’t fight a virus with tax cuts. Relief must do more than help workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others. All families are at risk right now and relief that is broad-based is the best way to protect and stimulate our economy. That starts with free health care and vaccines for all those confronting this virus, support for all those who cannot work, with guaranteed paid sick days for all working people, affordable child care, nutrition assistance for those who need it, and solutions targeted at moms and families, rather than wealthy corporations.  

“Our elected leaders must do better for our country’s health. They need to provide medical professionals and states with the funding, equipment, and tests they need to fight this pandemic head on.

“Finally, it is laughable for this President to demand an end to partisanship. He should first look in the mirror and then speak only when advised by seasoned medical professionals, rather than continuing to spread lies, along with other members of his administration.

“The Trump administration has shredded the safety net, denied vulnerable families essential supports, and taken resources away from our health care infrastructure. We’re paying a price for that now. America’s moms and families are being overlooked and under-tested – our urgent needs ignored. We demand more.”

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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.