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Statement

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO of MomsRising.org, on President Obama’s State of the Union address to Congress

January 20, 2015
Health Care, Workplace Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Movement of Over a Million Moms Praise Obama’s State of the Union Initiatives for Working Families
"Tonight, the President clearly articulated what mothers across the nation experience every day: Our families, our children, and our economy are being hurt by the fact that we as a nation have yet to update our antiquated workplace and family economic security policies, including those relating to childcare, earned sick days, paid family (maternity/paternity) leave, fair pay, taxes, and healthcare access. 
 
Moms across the country thank and salute the President Obama for stepping up to address these national challenges tonight in the State of the Union.  With women now 50% of the labor force for the first time in history, moving forward policies that advance our families and our economy, open doors to opportunity for all children, address national police reform and the safety of our children, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive is more critical than ever.
 
Specifically, the President’s initiatives for working families, including advancing access to affordable childcare, his support for the Healthy Families Act, his plan to encourage states to create paid family (maternity/paternity) leave programs, and his action to ensure that federal employees have access to paid leave when a new baby arrives or a medical emergency occurs are important steps in helping improve family economic security while strengthening our economy. Further, his Taskforce on 21st Century Police Reform is a step in the right direction to address racial justice in our nation.
 
Every year, MomsRising has encouraged its members to play “State of the Union BINGO,” tracking whether the President addresses the issues on the MomsRising agenda. This year, across the county, we were yelling ‘BINGO!’ as President of the United States discussed the issues that most affect the economic security of America’s families and our national economy. 
 
MomsRising, and its more than one million members,along with the hundreds of allied organizations we work with each day, stand ready to support the President in achieving his agenda. An agenda that will boost women, mothers, children, working families, and our national economy. We are invigorated and energized. Moms have shown that we are a powerful political force and we urge Congress and leaders across the nation to take up this agenda today!”
 
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PLAY MOMSRISING’S SOTU BINGO HERE: http://action.momsrising.org/signup/SOTU_2015/
 

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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.