Last week, the CARES Act was passed by Congress and signed into law. You can read our statement here. While there is still more work to be done, the CARES Act provides urgently-needed support to moms and working families, small businesses and the health care system.

This week's actions are things you can do today to continue to help lift all moms and families.

Thank you for taking action! 

1. Tell Congress, we need the PAID Leave Act and we need it now!

BACKGROUND: We need Congress to close the large loopholes in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act by including the Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave (PAID Leave) Act in the next COVID-19 package.

We need paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave, for all of us to get through this crisis, and we need them for good. Both are essential during times of pandemics, but we also need these benefits permanently in place to support working families.

→ Tell your members of Congress in the House and Senate to BOOST AND MAKE PERMANENT paid sick days and paid family and medical leave in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

2. Child care could be gone if Congress doesn't #FundChildCare NOW!

BACKGROUND: Families across the nation are at risk of permanently losing the child care that is critical to ensuring their youngest children have the enriching care they need to thrive while parents and caregivers work. As a nation, we are on the verge of losing more than half (yes you read that right - MORE THAN HALF) of our child care programs in the next week IF there isn’t significant public investment and support.

>>>> As child care centers close to protect children and the communities they serve from further spread of the COVID-19 virus, urge Congress to pass child care relief funding to ensure the stability of our child care system so parents and caregivers have child care to return to when this crisis is over.

3. Pregnant or breastfeeding in the midst of coronavirus? Tell us!

BACKGROUND: Are you currently pregnant or breastfeeding? MomsRising wants to hear from YOU about your experience in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Share your story now!  

4. Protect Incarcerated Loved Ones from COVID-19

BACKGROUND: One such crisis that’s now at a breaking point with COVID-19 is our mass incarceration rate — the highest in the world -- and crowded detention facilities in which we have totally inadequate health protections. This puts moms, dads, families, children, communities, and workers at undue risk. Tell governors, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, mayors, and sheriffs not to leave anyone behind and take immediate COVID-19 action at prisons, jails, and immigrant detention centers, including releasing everyone who isn’t a risk to public safety, reducing admissions, and more.

Tell governors, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, mayors, and sheriffs not to leave anyone behind and take immediate COVID-19 action at prisons, jails, and immigrant detention centers.

5. Sign up for the next #KeepMarching online meeting, 4/7, 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT: COVID-19 + taxes, the economy, and paid family leave

BACKGROUND: The current health crisis is upending life as we know it, including how we work, spend money, maintain our relationships, think about the future, and so much more. During this online meeting, we’ll be considering just a few of these things: the implications of COVID-19 for taxes, the economy, and paid family leave. Joining us will be experts from the National Women's Law Center, the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, and MomsRising.

You should join us, too! Sign up now:

Thanks for all you do!   

P.S. Congress passed, and the President has signed, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which is effective from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Congress also passed and the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is generally effective on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act amended FFCRA with respect to some sick time provisions and also provides expanded unemployment insurance benefits. Click the link for some answers to frequently asked questions about the new law.