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Statement

MomsRising Calls for More Help for Families Affected by Recession

March 4, 2010
Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement of Donna Norton, MomsRising National Campaign Director
"I am Donna Norton, National Campaign Director for MomsRising.
 
MomsRising is an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization for moms and anyone who has a mom. We have more than one million members nationwide, with members in every state.
 
It is fair to say that, in one way or another, every MomsRising member has been affected by the painful recession that is now in its second year. If their own family isn’t suffering, an extended family member, friend or neighbor – or a schoolmate of their daughter or son – is in a family in trouble. That family may be unable to buy a growing child shoes that fit, unable to buy food or pay the bills, behind on a mortgage, or losing a home.
 
Some days, it seems that lawmakers don’t understand that.
 
As mothers, we’re used to rolling up our sleeves and solving problems. But what we saw on Capitol Hill this week was dysfunction that caused, rather than solved, problems.
 
We received many letters from our members this week asking how a simple extension of unemployment and health insurance for families in trouble became a political football. Every member of Congress has the responsibility to make sure that unemployment insurance and COBRA remain a lifeline for every family in need.
 
In fact, the extension Congress finally passed lasts just 30 days. This issue is going to come up again soon. At a time when so many families are suffering, America’s moms are asking lawmakers to extend these vital programs through the end of the year. Every week of delay means that 200,000 more workers lose their benefits.
 
Our members care deeply about this. Here are some of the over 26,000 letters they sent last week to Congress about the impact of the recession. This is an issue that is close to our hearts. Many moms are making superhero efforts to do our part to help our friends and families who have lost jobs to get through this difficult period. Members of Congress, please do your part by extending unemployment insurance and COBRA through the end of the year.
 
Thank you."
 

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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.