Happy Friday! Hot off the presses: Our latest list of top actions from the past week on everything from diapers to gun safety. We urgently need your support. Please scroll through and make sure you've added your voice to all. Then be sure to share with friends and family, too. Thank you! => 

1. Help us defend women! Tell your U.S. Senators to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act

BACKGROUND: The U.S. House of Representatives just voted to reauthorize the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Now it's the U.S. Senate's turn. With nearly half of all women killed in the United States murdered by a current or former intimate partner, reauthorizing VAWA is critically important to saving lives. VAWA 2019 makes modest but important improvements to the original landmark legislation that passed in 1994, that has since provided a lifeline to tens of thousands of women experiencing abuse. VAWA 2019 closes the "boyfriend loophole" that would deny violent dating partners and stalkers access to firearms. It also provides important tools to law enforcement officers to help them better enforce existing law. Add your voice now! 

2. Tell Congress: Put an end to diaper need!

BACKGROUND: Right now, 1 in 3 American families struggle to afford diapers for their babies. When families can’t afford diapers, it can put a baby’s health at risk and the negatively impact the overall financial well-being of a family. Thankfully, there is help on the way. The Diaper Need Act would create a $100 million program charged with distributing free diapers and diapering products (including cloth diapering supplies, diaper cream, and wipes) to neighborhoods across the nation to help reduce the diaper need among families. The bill also defines diapers as “medically necessary” so that families can purchase them through health savings accounts and HRAs. → Urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor the End Diaper Need Act of 2019.

3. TELL CONGRESS: Support Working Family Tax Credits!

BACKGROUND: The U.S. Congress needs to reject the Trump-GOP Tax Plan and pass policies that we know work. Tax policies that boost working families, instead of mega-corporations. Lucky for us, leaders in Congress are starting to put together proposals that will help our families and even the playing field in our upside down, only-benefiting-the 1% tax code. SIGN our letter to the U.S. Congress telling them to strengthen tax credits for working families, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit, and repeal the Trump-GOP Tax Scam! We'll be delivering your signatures to your U.S. Senator next week when moms storm Capitol Hill calling for improvements to the EITC and Child Tax Credit. Make sure to SIGN ON NOW! 

P.S. Want to join us on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 10th to celebrate an amazing EITC and Child Tax Credit bill introduction that will boost our families and economy? RSVP now! 

4. Send a QUICK Letter to Stand with Asylum Seekers

BACKGROUND: Years of childrearing have taught us that failure to get your way is not a national emergency. President Trump’s latest self-generated crisis is a threat to shut down the Southern Border in the face of the humanitarian crisis his administration created by his cruel immigration policies that include the intentional separation and incarceration of children and families. Not only is it wrong to turn away asylum seekers at our border, (including women and children), closing the Southern Border region would also send economic shockwaves throughout the country because the region serves as a key entry point to billions of dollars in commerce and cross-border traffic. Write a letter to the editor today to share with your community why Congress should stand firm against a border closure, and instead take strong steps to resolve the humanitarian crises the administration created at the Southern Border.

5. Tuesday was Equal Pay Day. Tell the U.S. Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act!

BACKGROUND: The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act and now we’re charging full speed ahead toward the U.S. Senate with our campaign for equal pay! Why do we need the Paycheck Fairness Act? Because right now, women of color and moms still earn far too little compared to white men and dads. Moms are typically paid just 69 cents for every dollar paid to dads, while Latinas are paid 53 cents, Native American women 58 cents, Black women 61 cents, and Asian women 85 cents for every dollar paid to white men. Moms of color experience double wage hits. Overall, women make 80 cents on the dollar. The Paycheck Fairness Act will help close the gender wage gap, in part by closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act. Tell your U.S. Senators to co-sponsor and advance the Paycheck Fairness Act.

INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK:

This past Tuesday was Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into 2019 women have to work to earn what white men were paid in 2018 alone. Women overall make just 80 cents for every dollar paid to white men and women of color and moms experience wage hits on top of that. THANK YOU to the over 40 coffee shops that helped spread awareness through informational coffee sleeves and napkins! Check out these inspiring highlights from across the country:

Thank you for all you do, 

- Karen, Kristin, Gloria, Khadija, Elyssa, Sara, Nate, Sue Anne, and the rest of the MomsRising.org / MamásConPoder.org Team

P.S. This list is also on our website. Please share with family and friends so they can take action, too. Thanks!