We did it! Washington just became the second state in the nation to pass Paid Family Leave this past Tuesday when the Governor signed the bill into law. And this is all because of YOU, the members of MomsRising, and our policy partner organizations! But, we're not stopping with Washington--we're working to roll paid family leave across the country, and American families are counting on us. (Read about how we won with quotes from members and legislators, and sign a thank you letter, in the text below.)

To our Washington MomsRising members; to our primary policy parter, the Economic Opportunity Institute; to the Washington State legislature; we say THANK YOU!!! Working together, we really did it!

Here's what key legislators have to say about the win: "The Family Leave bill would not have passed without the great work of MomsRising. Being able to mobilize thousands of constituents to e-mail our Governor and individual lawmakers made all the difference! It's a great model for an authentic political movement made up of people who are unable to attend rallies or raise huge amounts of campaign donations. It's a way for real people to make a real difference." -- Senator Karen Keiser, prime sponsor of the Paid Family Leave bill in the Senate

"I feel relief after the hard struggle and also joy that the Washington legislature has committed to a Family Leave program. There are many important steps still to be taken to get it right, but we are on the way! The members of MomsRising were an integral part of this victory--inspiring everyone they met and communicated with, keeping the pressure on, and holding legislators accountable up to the minutes before the final vote. Congratulations to all of us!" -- Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown

SIGN THE THANK YOU CARD TO THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE: The Washington State legislature, led by Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, Senator Karen Keiser, and Representative Mary Lou Dickerson had the courage to stand up and support Paid Family Leave—and to lead the nation toward better policies. Let's thank them for leading the way! We'll deliver this thank you card to the leaders of Washington when the Governor signs the bill into law in the beginning of May.

*Sign on to the thank you card to the Washington legislative leaders and Governor here: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/momsrising/signU...

A SHOUT OUT TO OUR PRIMARY POLICY PARTNER: When MomsRising gets involved at the local level, we try to partner with an organization that has deep expertise with the policy—and we couldn't have a better policy partner than the Economic Opportunity Institute in Washington, who along with the Washington Family Leave Coalition, and the labor unions also pushed this bill. "Paid family leave is on the cutting edge of balancing work and family in our country. Since 1999, the Economic Opportunity Institute has been developing the policy and catalyzing the discussion for paid family leave. This work came together this year largely as a result of the birth and activism of MomsRising. With this new generation of moms (and dads) standing up and demanding true family values, paid family leave became first possible and then actual!" -- John R. Burbank, Executive Director, Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI)

WHAT MOMSRISING MEMBERS DID TO PUSH THIS POLICY: MomsRising members in Washington actively supported this bill from before the start of the legislative session and kept at it until the very end--often responding to at least one e-outreach a week. The national support by MomsRising members also made a big difference--people sending ONEsies and emailing letters from across the nation helped push this policy into law. Here's a compilation of what the members of MomsRising in Washington did over the past three and a half months:
- Sent over 14,000 emailed letters to elected officials urging passage of this legislation during the three and a half month session;
- Made hundreds and hundreds of phone calls to legislators;
- Baked and delivered over 600 cookies to Olympia elected officials;
- Envisioned and pulled together a jaw-dropping Power of ONEsie display in less than 5 days;
- Gave flowers to legislative leaders in thanks for their efforts;
- Held late night phone conference calls to strategize;
- Asked legislators their stand on the bill, and blogged about the results so likely "no" votes received more pressure;
- Sent letters to state legislators with Polaroid pictures of the moms and kids who need this policy;
- Two WA members promised to wear the MomsRising t-shirt every day from the start of the session until the policy passes (even if it takes 10 years);
- WA members came out in force to meet with elected leaders on multiple occasions;
- Gave temporary tattoos and MomsRising t-shirts to legislators (who wear both proudly);
- Visited elected officials in person at the State Capitol to show their support;

- Held countless house parties to watch the Motherhood Manifesto documentary film and get organized.

HERE'S WHAT THE WA MOMSRISING MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY: "Working with Momsrising, particularly on the Power of ONEsie campaign, re-enforced my faith in our democratic system. When we put those onesies up at the Washington State capital and Senators & Representatives stopped in their tracks to watch what we were doing, I was reminded that we DO have a voice, that we CAN change things and that we MUST do what we can, however wacky and outlandish, to remind our leaders that they are here for us and that families need to come first!" -Colleen

"When the Senators came out after the vote to give us hugs and high-fives, half of us were in tears we were so excited! It hit me then just how ground-breaking and powerful our work is. Washington is the 2nd state in the nation to have this kind of policy--and we did it!" -- Katie

"I felt like I was out riding the suffragist trains with Alice Paul and Lucy Burns! It was exhilarating to be part of the process that made paid family leave happen, and an honor, really, to help impact families. MomsRising has made advocacy timely, doable and effective—I'm ready for our next mom mission!" - Leslie

"When the vote in the House seemed in jeopardy, we needed an impactful way to influence legislators beyond making calls and e-mails. What better way to reach legislators than through their stomachs? I recruited a group of moms to bake 50 dozen cookies in a very short time. Within days of the crucial House vote, 600+ cookies were delivered to all 98 representatives with hopes of leaving a powerful impression in their minds (and stomachs!). I was overwhelmed at the quick response from the moms willing to help out on such short notice despite their hectic schedules. We'll never know what kind of impact a little 'ole batch of cookies made, but I like to think it pushed at least one or two votes over the edge!" -- Marisa

"Thank you, Momsrising, for giving me the courage to call our state legislators for the first time, during my lunch hour. I never dreamed I could fit lobbying into my busy schedule! I cannot wait to start seeing the amazing impact this bill will have." -Kymberlee

"When Ken and I committed to wear MomsRising shirts everyday until this bill passed, we believed we would be wearing the same shirts everyday for the next few years. Instead, our community spoke loudly that it supported this bill, our government listened intently and, when this bill is signed into law, we will be taking off our daily uniform after only 4 months. While we will be setting our Rosie & Baby t-shirts aside, what will not be set aside is that we can help to make history. We look forward to the year 2009 and the lucky babies who will have more time with their parents." --Yvonne

"My involvement started out with what was supposed to be a small house screening of "The Motherhood Manifesto" and turned into a coffee house screening with 50+ people and a cover story in the paper! With such an auspicious beginning with MomsRising merely 6 months ago, who knew I'd become an activist in such a short span of time! I'm amazed at the collective brain power and commitment of all the folks involved with keeping things rolling with MomsRising. What I appreciate most is the all-inclusive nature of this organization. If you've got an idea, then run with it! That's how the "Power of the Onsie" campaign got its start. I'm thankful for the opportunity and means to help make a positive impact for a cause that's truly worth believing in - the family!" - Marisa

WHY THIS ISSUE?: Paid family leave helps combat poverty, helps give children a healthy start, and helps lower the wage gap between women and men by providing the structural support necessary to balance work and family. The United States is one of only 4 countries in the world that doesn't offer some form of paid leave to new mothers--we join Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, and Lesotho with that dubious distinction. It's time to catch up with the rest of the world. Paid family leave has been shown to reduce infant mortality by as much as 20% (and the U.S. ranks a low 37th of all countries in infant mortality), as well as to help keep families out of poverty. Right now, having a baby is a leading cause of "poverty spells" in this country (poverty spells are a time when income dips below what's needed for basic living expenses like food and rent). And a full quarter of families with children under six years old live in poverty here. Offering paid family leave is a critical component of a truly family-friendly nation.

*Don't forget to sign the card at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/momsrising/signU...

Now pop a bottle of bubbly with us! - The Washington MomsRising Team, Yvonne, Ken, Katie, Kristin, Colleen, Marisa, Kymberlee, Diane, John, Leslie, Meagan, Cherise, and Sarah

p.s. Order our special MomsRising coffee and book package for Mother's Day. Just click here and you're on your way to present giving (or give it to yourself!): http://shop.farleyscoffeeinc.com/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=81