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Statement

Budget the NC House of Representatives Passed Today Is a ‘Good Start’ on Stabilizing Our State’s Child Care System – But It Will Take More

May 22, 2025
Early Care & Education, North Carolina

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Beth Messersmith, Senior Director, MomsRising North Carolina. MomsRising is the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, including 47,000 in North Carolina:

“Today the NC House of Representatives took an important step toward stabilizing our state’s child care system – but moms, families and businesses are counting on lawmakers to do more. The appropriations included in the NC House budget of $60 million in year one and $80 million in year two to increase child care subsidy reimbursement rates, plus $25 million to lower parent co-pays, are a good start, but not enough to stabilize our child care system, strengthen our state’s industries and its economy, and provide the support working families and rural communities need. 

“With 294 child care program sites closing last year, 1,500 more at risk of closing, and the child care crisis costing North Carolina a shocking $5.65 billion each year in lost economic activity, we are counting on state legislators to invest the full $220 million our state needs. This would create a minimum statewide reimbursement rate floor based on our state's most recent child care rate study and move reimbursements closer to the costs of providing child care. This investment would help prevent program closures and make quality, affordable child care more available in rural communities, which have been hit hardest.

“North Carolina moms are grateful NC lawmakers are working to stabilize our state’s child care system, and we’re relying on all our state legislators to make the full investment needed to make child care affordable and accessible in our state. Only then will more parents be able to go to work, more families be able to pay their bills, more children thrive, more businesses be able to access the workers they need, more early childhood educators be paid the living wages they deserve – and only then will our state’s economy succeed.”

# # # #

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, stop discrimination against women and moms, and 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: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.

Statement

Fear and Profound Sadness Grip Minnesota – and the Nation – Yet Again Due to the Unspeakable Gun Violence Our Lawmakers Ignore

August 28, 2025
Gun Control

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the mass shooting at a Minneapolis school church yesterday:

“An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old shot dead as they prayed at their school church. Fourteen other children and three adults shot and wounded. A school full of children traumatized in ways that will change them, and their families, forever. A community and a country living in even more fear.

“Our hearts break for everyone affected by the horrendous shootings at the Annunciation Catholic School church in Minneapolis yesterday. America’s moms are horrified, terrified, and enraged by the never-ending shootings taking place day in and day out across our country. We know the pervasiveness of guns and gun violence is taking away our freedom to learn, worship, play, shop, and simply live in our communities without fear – and we don’t want to live this way. We don’t want to be gripped with terror each time we send our children to school, take them to shop or see a movie, or send them to a church, synagogue or mosque.

“Yet the lawmakers whose job is to improve our health, safety and lives, have rejected the sensible gun control measures that have overwhelming bipartisan voter support because they would help keep us safe. President Trump is busy admiring the troops and tanks he brought to tourist sites in Washington DC and threatening to do the same in other large cities, while he and his Republican leaders ignore the gun violence that poses a very real, very grave, ever-present threat to our health and freedom to live in safety without fear. America’s moms are fed up. We want meaningful change through sensible national gun reform measures, including universal background checks, a ban on military-style assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and access to extreme risk protection orders, now.”

 

Statement of Jennifer Bertram, MomsRising member and mom of two in Minneapolis:

“I drive past Annunciation Church and School frequently - they are about a mile from my home. Yesterday on my way home, I was redirected by police with the nearby roads blockaded in the aftermath of the horrific act of violence that took place during morning mass. The neighborhood of Southwest Minneapolis that I've called home for almost 20 years – where I have raised my children – came together yesterday to tie blue and green ribbons around neighborhood trees, organize two vigils in nearby spaces, and give people a chance to grieve and show support for their neighbors.

“But I can't help but keep asking why this keeps happening? Ribbons and prayers are not an adequate response to these ongoing tragedies. What is it going to take to keep our children safe from violence in their schools, places of worship, and playgrounds? It is my responsibility as a mom to engage with elected officials, community leaders, other families, and businesses to make change that will prevent any more children from dying. So I'll tie a ribbon on my tree, grieve along with my neighbors, and advocate for necessary changes to improve gun control. No more children need to die before we take serious action.”

# # # #

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, stop discrimination against women and moms, and 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: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.

Legal & Privacy

Click the links below to get to specific MomsRising.org Legal & Privacy policies:

House Party "How-To" Kit

Thank you for hosting a MomsRising house party to show the new documentary film! We hope you're as excited as we are about this fun way to share the Motherhood Manifesto documentary film.

Holding a house party is a great way to get together with friends, eat dessert (we suggest a dessert potluck so there's a variety of tasty treats to share), see a great flick, and talk about the issues that matter to you. It's that easy. As a back up, we’ve developed a lot of supporting materials below, but feel free to “wing it” and hold a party that works best for you. Have fun!

 

– The MomsRising Team

 

 

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***MomsRising House Party in 8 Simple Steps!***

 

Click on any of the lines in the table of contents below to go directly to that section.

 

*FIRST, TWO IMPORTANT RESOURCES*

1- AGENDA FOR SCREENING PARTY--HOST VERSION

2- WAYS TO TAKE ACTION NOW! (Share this with Party Guests!)

 

STEP 1: GET STARTED

a. Sign Up to Host a Party– It’s Easy!

b. Order the Film

c. Get Connected

 

STEP 2: PLAN, PLAN, PLAN

a. Pick a Date & Time

b. Location, Location, Location

c. Plan the Menu (Can you say dessert potluck!?)

d. Don't Forget to Get the Film!

e. E & M (AKA: Equipment & Materials)

f. Feel Free to Ask Friends for Party Help

 

STEP 3: DEVELOP YOUR GUEST LIST

a. Set Your Goals

b. Make Your Guest List & Pick Party Style (Friends & Family, Red/Blue, or "Open to All" Community Screening)

 

STEP 4: INVITE PEOPLE

a. Send Invitations

b. Follow-Up Personally

c. Send Reminders

 

STEP 5: PLAN YOUR EVENING

a. Review the Agenda for Hosts

b. What's On the DVD--Pick What You're Going to Watch!

c. Hand-Outs

 

STEP 6: GETTING READY THE DAY OF THE SOIREE

a. Sign-In Station

b. Gimme an E for Equipment!

c. Printed Materials

 

STEP 7: PARTY!

a. Assign a Timekeeper

b. Dessert!

c. Assign a Note Taker

d. Take Pictures

e. Have Fun!

 

STEP 8: TELL US ALL ABOUT IT!

a. Fill Out the Survey

b. Send Pictures

c. Got More to Say?

 

 

*Want to print out this How-To Kit and post it on your fridge for reference? Feel free to hit print on your computer and get your own hard copy of these helpful materials.

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STEP 1: Get Started

 

a. Sign Up to Host a Party – It’s Easy!

 

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to sign-up as a party host on our MomsRising Party Center at http://www.party2win.com/momsrising.

 

When you sign up, you’ll get access to all the resources you’ll need to plan and manage your party, including a personal Event Page and "Host Dashboard." Your "Host Dashboard" will make it easy to send email invitations, manage your guest list, track RSVPs, and send reminders. Help us keep track of parties - please register as a host even if you don't plan to use the party website to invite your guests.

 

You can sign up even before you’ve set your party date, time or location. To do this, enter your contact information in the host sign-up page and then simply check the box to make it a "virtual party".

 

Then, at any time, you can log back into your "Host Dashboard" to specify a party date, update or change your party information, as well as to invite additional people, and check RSVPs. To log back into your "Host Dashboard," go to: www.party2win.com/momsrising and click on the “Returning Hosts: Log In” button in the menu on the left side of your computer screen.

 

We found this process to be pretty straightforward, but if you run into snags, here’s a step-by-step guide:

 

o When you log back in as a Host you’ll have two options: 1-“Host Party Management & Center;” and 2-“Event RSVP.”

o When you click “Host Party Management & Center” you’ll go to your “Host Dashboard,” which allows you to invite people, see your RSVPs, edit your party plans, send group e-mails to those you’ve invited, and more.

o Clicking the “Event RSVP” page brings you to your own party web page and you can see how many people have RSVPed, as well as check out your webpage to see if changes are needed—there are links to the “Host Dashboard” from this page as well.

 

b. Order the Film

 

After you sign up to Host a Party, be sure to order your DVD of The Motherhood Manifesto film to show at your party. MomsRising is offering the DVD at cost – so you pay just $6.00 to cover shipping, handling and the DVD printing charges.

 

*Or better yet, order 5 DVDs for a bulk price of only $20.00 so you can give away 4 DVDs at the end of the party as a prize for folks that decide to host their own party!

 

To place your order, go to: http://www.goodstorm.com/stores/momsrising. There are several shipping speed options available, so you can choose what works best for you.

 

c. Get Connected

 

We created a new topic in the MomsRising Forum (www.momsrising.org/forum) specifically for party hosts. In the coming weeks, log on and share your questions, brilliant ideas, and creative solutions about house party hosting. Our team and your fellow hosts will be there to respond.

 

If you want to reach us personally at any time, feel free to contact us by sending an email to: party@momsrising.org . We want to support you in this important work!

 

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STEP 2: Plan, Plan, Plan

 

Once you have signed up, the next step is to plan the core elements of the party. There are tons of tips on your “Host Dashboard,” and here are a few useful tips as well:

 

a. Pick a Date & Time

 

We recommend you allow up to 2 weeks to plan your party. Give your guests time to put your party on their calendar (but feel free to throw a last minute soirée if that works better for you and the people you invite!). You can decide how long the gathering will last--our suggested agenda takes less than 2 hours. And don’t forget to plan in eating time. You can talk and eat (see the sample discussion agenda below), or take a break to just sit back and enjoy the desserts.

 

If you need to change your party date, time or location before (or after) you send out your invitations, simply log back onto MomsRising Party Center site and edit your party information. To edit your party information, go to: www.party2win.com/momsrising and click on the “Returning Hosts: Log In” button in the menu on the left side of your computer screen. Once you are there, go to the “Host Party Management Center,” which is your “Host Dashboard,” and scroll down to “3-Manage Event,” choose, “Edit Your Event.” From this page, you can change any of your party information instantly.

 

b. Location, Location, Location

 

We recommend you use your own house for the party if at all possible. Even when things are a little cozy, gatherings in homes have a warm, inviting feel.

 

If you do not have a home large enough to hold the expected number of guests (we expect most parties to have 8 or more guests), consider hosting the party at a friend or relative’s house. In fact, co-hosting can be a really fun way to do this. Alternately, you might reserve a room in an appropriate community space such as a local community center, senior center, or church space (some people are even organizing films showings in local theatres!). You can ask guests to help cover any cost for rental.

 

c. Plan the Menu (Dessert Potluck Anyone!?)

 

Can we say, dessert!?! We strongly suggest a dessert potluck so you have a variety of tasty treats to share, and to make the party easy for the host to hold. Everyone can rally around desserts! The amount and type of food is obviously up to you. If you want to do more, brunch, lunch, or dinner potlucks keep costs low and are a great way to build community.

 

d. Don't Forget to Get the Film!

 

If you haven’t already done so, make sure to order your DVD of The Motherhood Manifesto film to show at your party right away. MomsRising is offering the DVD at cost--so you pay just $6.00 to cover shipping, handling and the DVD printing charges.

 

*Or better yet, order 5 DVDs for a bulk price of only $20.00 so you can give away 4 DVDs at the end of the party as a prize for folks that decide to host their own party!

 

To place your order, go to: http://www.goodstorm.com/stores/momsrising There are several shipping speed options available, so you can choose what works best for you.

 

e. E & M (AKA: Equipment & Materials)

 

Here's a short checlist of materials and equipment you should consider having for your party:

 

- DVD of Motherhood Manifesto

- TV or other screen to show your film

- Flip chart or butcher paper to record the group's ideas

- Index cards (one for each guest) for guests to jot down notes

- Pens/pencils (one for each guest)

- Computer open to MomsRising.org so your guests can see the site and sign-up online

- Sign-in sheet to capture names and email addresses (if computer is not an option)

 

You might want to give the DVD a test spin on your equipment before the party starts to make sure all is working well, but we don’t expect any problems. Basically, if you can play other DVDs, you should be able to play this one.

 

f. Feel Free to Ask Friends for Party Help

 

It’s always fun to plan parties with others! So you may want to consider recruiting people to help throughout the planning process and the party hosting, or even find a co-host. Some tasks you may be able to share include: inviting people; setting up equipment; preparing your home; facilitating the group discussions during the party; timekeeping during the party; note taking during the party, or making dessert!

 

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STEP 3: Develop Guest List

 

a. Set Your Goals

 

Your house party can be whatever size you’d like--our suggested agenda and format will accommodate groups of 8 and more. Smaller groups are fine too.

 

It's often good to invite more people than you expect to attend--everyone's busy these days, and some of your invitees are bound to already have plans for the time of your screening. (One rule of thumb is to invite twice as many people as you’d like to attend).

 

b. Make Your Guest List & Pick Party Style

 

Here are several party variations you should consider before you make up your guest list and send invitations. Remember, you can have more than one party if you want!

 

1. Hold a Party with Friends & Family:

 

If you throw a “Friends & Family” house party, you will invite people who you know personally.

 

Guests may include:

- Friends

- Family

- Co-workers

- Neighbors

- Other parents in your mom's group

- Grandmothers, and all Red Hatters

- Parents from your children’s play group, school, and sports

- Members of your church, synagogue, temple, or other religious organization

- Members of your labor union, PTA, political club, or book group

- People you play sports with, or with whom you have regular interactions

 

In short, invite whatever group you feel comfortable pulling together for a fun party and conversation. Active dialogue makes parties (and life) interesting!

 

2. Hold a “Red/Blue” Party:

 

Another option is for you to very consciously invite a trans-partisan group (i.e. Democrats, Republicans, and others) to the party and make it a “Red/Blue” gathering and dialogue.

 

Let’s be honest, many of us hunker down and stop discussing issues with people with whom we assume we’ll disagree! We at MomsRising believe these motherhood and family issues are ideal for trans-partisan conversations. The truth is women of every political affiliation experience the same hurdles and barriers, and our concern for women and families transcends traditional political boundaries.

 

To plan a Red/Blue party, we suggest you work with a co-host who has a different political affiliation than you do. Your co-host could be a trusted co-worker, friend, or family member who shares your passion for supporting women and families. You can develop a guest list together.

 

Additionally your co-host can help you plan all aspects of the party (time, location, & agenda) to ensure it is welcoming and respectful of multiple political perspectives.

 

3. Hold a Party that is Open to All:

 

If you feel comfortable, you could also open up the party to others in your community who you might not know personally.

 

Some options for making the party available to a wider audience include:

- Making party open to other MomsRising members in your geographic area (there is a search function on the MomsRising House Party site for people looking to attend parties in their area)

- Posting an invitation to local listervs

- Sending an email to invitees asking them to share with their communities

- Submitting an announcement to community papers for listing in their “Events Calendar”

- Including an announcement in your church/synagogue bulletin

- Delivering invites to your neighbors

- Inviting local elected officials and candidates

 

This would be a great way to expand the size of the party, meet new people, and expand the range perspectives in the room.

 

*To make your party public, you can simply choose the option to “make my party public” in your host sign-up page. If you need to change this setting, simply log into your party page www.party2win.com/momsrising , click on “Log in: Returning Hosts”) and choose the link: Edit Your Event. Once you are there, change the setting to “public” and press the Submit button.

 

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STEP 4: Invite People

 

At last, you’re ready to get to the fun part – inviting people!

 

a. Send Invitations

 

Typing out how to do this process makes it seem more difficult than it actually is in practice! Inviting people via e-mail through the www.party2win.com/momsrising system is actually quite easy! And you can keep track of your invitees this way, as well as get text you can use for your invite, and each of your e-mails will automatically have a link your guests can click to get right to your party page.

 

To use the www.party2win.com/momsrising system to invite people via e-mail, go to the site and click "Returning Hosts: Log In," and log in with your user name and password.

 

(FYI: Your user name is your e-mail address you used when you registered, and your password was e-mailed to you after you chose it when you signed up--but you can also click the "Forgot your password" button to have it e-mail to you again).

 

After you log in, you'll be sent directly to your "Host Dashboard" where there is a wide range of options for managing your party, including inviting people.

 

Click "Invite People" under "1-Publicize" to do just that, invite people! This brings you to a page where you can type in e-mail addresses--remember to separate them with commas (or copy and paste e-mails in like we generally do), or even upload a list of e-mails in bulk.

 

After you get the e-mails in, you’ll see down the screen that we’ve provided you with a sample email invitation – use this or create your own! Then just click "Preview & Send" at the bottom of the page (you may have to scroll down to find this button).

 

This brings you to a preview screen where you just have to click "Send" again to send the e-mail out to your invitees.

 

NOTE ABOUT THE E-MAIL INVITE: The e-mail you send out will automatically have a link for your invitees to click so they can see your host event page, which has all of the date, time, location, and RSVP information for your party. And, we have a little secret to share: We often invite ourselves to our own parties first so we can see exactly what our invitees will see!

 

b. Follow-Up Personally

 

No matter how you send your invitation, be sure to follow-up by phone or in person. People appreciate the personal touch and it will dramatically increase your chances of getting people there. If you have a co-host, divide up the calls or visits so it’s manageable.

 

c. Send Reminders

 

Don’t forget to send an email reminder several days before your party. You can use the www.party2win.com/momsrising website to send reminders if you want. To send an email reminder using the website, just log in as a returning host, and then click on the link, “Send an Email to My Guests.” Then, if you choose the option, “I want to choose an email template to work from,” you can use or edit one of the “Reminder” email templates provided.

 

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STEP 5: Plan Your Evening

 

We recommend that you dedicate a total of about 2 hours for the documentary viewing and discussion portion of the gathering. We’ve developed a sample agenda as a starting point for you to consider (scroll down this page to see that sample agenda for hosts, or go to http://www.momsrising.org/partyagenda to check it out now).

 

Of course, you can always shift the agenda as needed before or during the meeting to accommodate your group’s interest or timing realities! And, you can modify it to fit your needs as well. It’s all up to you!

 

a. Review the Agenda for Hosts

 

Check out the agenda for hosts to find out how to time your party, and how to keep discussions lively.

 

*Just go to http://www.momsrising.org/partyagenda and check it out. Feel free to hit print while your on that web page so you have the document available as an easy reference during the party.

 

b. What's On the DVD--Pick What You're Going to Watch!

 

You need to pick what you'll be screening at your party. Here's what The Motherhood Manifesto DVD includes:

 

o MomsRising 101 (5 minutes) – MomsRising Founders Joan Blades and Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner give a little background about MomsRising and its mission. This is a great way to start your party!

 

o “Party” Version of the Documentary Film(45 minutes) – This shorter version of the documentary is a great option if you want to have more time for conversation. The primary difference between this version and the “Director’s Cut” is a shorter introduction section.

- OR -

o “Director’s Cut” Version of the Documentary Film (1 hour) – Everything is included in this full length version. This is ideal for those who don’t want to miss a thing!

 

You need to choose either the shorter "Party Cut" or the "Director's Cut," for your party. They both cover essentially the same material.

 

o Mother Song (3 minutes) – Sing a long to the “Mother Song” with Rosie the Riveter and her baby!

 

Feel free to take a look and see what you like best. Also, note that the documentary film can be viewed in short issue segments, or chapters, if you like. Each issue segment is around 8 minutes long.

 

c. Hand-Outs

 

AGENDA FOR GUESTS: It’s a good idea to hand-out copies of the agenda to each guest at the party. A sample agenda designed for guests to use (it’s much shorter than the “host” version you'll see here) is posted at http://www.momsrising.org/guestagenda. You can easily print right off that page.

 

TAKE ACTION SHEET: You’ll also find a hand-out for guests to use during the “Take Action: Suggested Next Steps” portion of the agenda. Go to http://www.momsrising.org/partyaction and check it out now. This can also easily be printed right off the web page.

 

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STEP 6: Getting Ready the Day of the Soirée

 

In addition to the regular party organizing, we recommend you include the following items in your set up:

 

a. Sign-In Station

 

It’s hugely helpful to get the names and contact information of your attendees! And if they become MomsRising members, we can get them in the loop and begin sending them our email updates right away.

 

So we highly recommend you set up a computer station with the MomsRising.org website open, to let people sign-up online on the spot. Attendees can become members at no cost by visiting the “Sign Up” link at the top of the http://www.MomsRising.org homepage.

 

If a computer station isn’t possible, use a simple sign-in sheet and place it in a visible location. Before the party ends, make sure everyone that wants to has signed in. Then after your party, please type it in and e-mail to party@momsrising.org. Thanks!

 

b. Gimme an E for Equipment!

 

Well before your attendees arrive, set up your TV/DVD or computer equipment to play the Motherhood Manifesto documentary for your guests. Be sure to briefly test the entire system by playing a clip of the film and checking the audio and video quality.

 

c. Printed Materials

 

Display printed copies of the House Party Agenda and Take Action hand-outs in a central location.

 

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STEP 7: Party!

 

Here are some tips to keep things running smoothly during the party:

 

a. Assign a Timekeeper

 

Assign a volunteer ahead of time to keep track of time during your party! As the host, it’s very easy to lose track of time once people start arriving so your timekeeper can help you keep things running on time.

 

b. Dessert!

 

Don’t forget to plan a time to eat dessert during your party! Either during the film, during discussion, or at the end of the evening, dessert is a sure fire hit.

 

c. Assign a Note Taker

 

When your group gets to the stage of identifying priority issues and developing follow-up actions, assign one person to record ideas and next steps. We’ll have a section on the MomsRising website where you can tell the other members about your party so these notes will come in handy!

 

d. Take Pictures

 

Capture the occasion by taking group pictures–some candid shots of people in conversation, and of course the food! We’ll have a place on the MomsRising website for you to upload digital photos pictures from your party.

 

e. Have Fun!

 

Don’t forget to have fun yourself! If the host is having fun, the guests are usually enjoying themselves too. Try to finish all of your party set-up well before hand so you can focus on people, not tasks once the party has started. Enjoy!

 

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8.

Tell Us All About It!

 

We are eager to know everything about your party!

 

a. Fill Out the Survey

 

After your party, we’ll send you an email reminding you to complete our short, online evaluation form. We’ll use your feedback on the evaluation forms to revise our guidelines, prepare new materials, and refine our goals for the next series of house parties, and to help us prioritize what specific issues will be the central focus of MomsRising.

 

b. Send Pictures

 

Show us your party! Send a few pictures your party and your party details (date, location, host name) to us at party@momsrising.org. We’ll post pictures from the party at the MomsRising Party Central site!

 

c. Got More to Say?

 

If you want to share your experience with us directly, feel free to contact us by emailing party@momsrising.org. 

 

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*SAMPLE SCREENING PARTY AGENDA - HOST VERSION*

 

 

Welcome – 15 minutes

 

o Welcome guests and share a few personal thoughts

o Ask each person to introduce themselves by sharing:

 Name

 Where they live

 Why they came

 Funniest story about juggling family life, or your favorite dessert.

 

o Briefly share the agenda for the evening.

o Introduce the recommended agreements for the discussion developed by the Conversation Cafe (http://www.conversationcafe.org).

 

Sample Agreements for Conversation

 

o Open-mindedness – listen to and respect all points of view

o Acceptance – suspend judgment as best you can

o Curiosity – seek to understand rather than to persuade

o Discovery – question old assumptions, look for new insights

o Sincerity – speak for yourself and from your own experience

o Brevity – go for honesty and depth but don’t go on and on

 

Watch Documentary – 45 minutes or 1 hour (depending upon version you decide to show)

o Hand out index cards and pencil/pen to each person so they can take notes if wanted

o Invite each person to jot down their ideas, reactions, reflections while watching the documentary

o At the very end of the documentary, ask each person to take a few minutes to reflect on the documentary and write down the 3 issues mentioned in the documentary that are the most important to them (e.g. providing flex time, expanding the length of maternity leave, healthcare, etc.)

 

Dialogue in Pairs – 3 minutes

o Invite participants to pair-up and quickly share their top priorities with their partner

o Pairs identify their shared/overlapping priority issues

 

Dialogue in Groups of Four (or 8 if a large group) – 5 minutes

o Ask two pairs to gather together and quickly share their respective top priorities

o The foursomes identify their shared/overlapping priority issues

 

Large Group Discussion – 10 minutes

o Reconvene as a large group

o Invite each foursome to share their group’s areas of agreement

o Assign a note taker to record the top areas of agreement from each group as they report them. For those that are common across the groups, mark how many groups mentioned the issue; we will ask you to report these rankings back to us after the party is over (see the “Last but Not Least...Talk to Us” section above).

o Review final list of shared priorities (and please keep them around so you can share them with us after the party via our survey and forum).

 

Take Action – 30 minutes

o Check out the menu of possible action items below You can also link to this menu and print it out at http://www.momsrising.org/partyaction. Discuss the action menu and which individual actions or the group efforts you’d like to take.

 

Closing – 10 minutes

o Invite participants to share their thoughts/reflections about the gathering

o Take group picture

o Ask everyone to sign up on MomsRising.org as a member before they leave your house!

o Thank everyone for coming.

 

Eat & Continue the Conversation! Enjoy!

 

 

Equitable Expansions for Washington State

 

 

Watch our 2022 legislative session kick off video. 

 

 

Welcome to Washington State's 2022 legislative session page! Here you can keep track of our calls to action, ways to get involved, and our legislative agenda. Bookmark this page and be sure to check back frequently! If you haven't already, please:

 

 

The 2022 session is a short, 60-day session which means we only have a few weeks to make a big impact. 

There will be a lot going on in the next legislative session and with this work, it's so critical that legislators are hearing from families like yours so they know where the gaps are as they set their priorities for 2022. 

Scroll down to our resources where you will find updates, a legislator toolkit, our legislative agenda, story collection pages, and more as the legislative session progresses!

Bill Tracker
 

Bill NumberBilL DescriptionPRO/CONRESULT
HB 1486

Fixing outdated unemployment insurance laws that penalize working parents who lose their jobs because they lost child care.

We are PRO to expand unemployment insurance to include working families. 

Did not pass. Made it to the House Floor Calendar, but was short on votes.  

HB 2009

Creating the evergreen basic income trust.

We are PRO to create a guaranteed basic income program.

Did not pass. Stalled in the House Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans.

HB 2096

Fixing wording clarification and correcting editing errors in the Working Families Tax Credit policy. 

We are PRO to ensure that the Working Families Tax Credit policy is clarified so that the Department of Revenue can effectively implement the credit. 

Passed. For the next nine months leading up to 2023, MomsRising will be working with coalition partners to ensure an equitable and informative statewide roll out.

SB 5426

Improving the equity of Washington state's tax code by creating the Washington state wealth tax and taxing extraordinary financial intangible assets.

We are PRO on a 1% tax on financial assets in excess of $1 billion to fund public education, health care, and child care. 

Did not pass. Stalled in Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5463

Exempting a portion of the valuation of residential property from property taxation.

We are CON to prevent future budget deficits and because there is no progressive revenue indicated.

Did not pass. Stalled in Senate Ways & Means Committee.

SB 5793

Concerning stipends for low-income or underrepresented community members of state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other similar groups.

We are PRO to reimburse people with lived experiences who serve on legislative work groups so their expertise and time is respected. 

Passed. Stipends shall not exceed $200 for each day a person sits on a workgroup. 

$250,000 funded in budget for implementation of the bill.

SB 5769

A tax cuts bill that would eliminate the capital gains tax and progressive investments into social safety nets, like the Fair Start for Kids Act. 

We are CON to ensure future funding for the historic Fair Start for Kids Act.

Stalled in the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade. Regarding the issue of capital gains, 
a Douglas County Superior Court Judge ruled the capital gains tax as unconstitutional. Proponents of upholding capital gains are coordinating on defense work and next steps. We are working with coalition partners to communicate the impact of what the loss of funding for early learning and child care would mean for working families

HB 1888

Allowing the department of revenue to adjust the rates of remittance reductions in the working families' tax credit in order to align with federal maximum qualifying income levels

We are PRO to ensure that the Working Families Tax Credit phases out effectively year to year. 

Passed. For the next nine months leading up to 2023, MomsRising will be working with coalition partners to ensure an equitable and informative statewide roll out. 

HB 1885Authorizing dental therapy statewide. 

We are PRO to authorize dental therapy across Washington State. 

Did not pass. 

SB 5649

Improving Washington's Paid Family & Medical Leave program with changes that center families, mothers, and caregivers.

We are PRO on expanding Paid Family and Medical Leave so that individuals are eligible for unemployment benefits if they voluntarily leave a position because of caregiving needs.

Expanded to include seven calendar days following the death of the family member.  

Passed funding for actuarial services and funding to stabilize the program. $350M included in the state budget. 

 

 

Updates
 

Feburary 24, 2022: SB 5793 will be heard in the Appropriations committee at 1:30pm & let our lawmakers know what we need in the final budget!

This bill is moving through! Let's make sure it passes and gets the funding it needs.

Please sign in PRO before 12pm TOMORROW! https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=House&mId=29842&aId=147413&caId=19922&tId=3

Take action here to let lawmakers know that BUDGETS ARE OUR FRIENDS and that they need to check on them to make sure the House and Senate budgets reflect the needs of families, mothers, caregivers, and children. 

February 16, 2022: SB 5793 will be heard in the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee TOMORROW! February 17th, at 10am.

Can you take a moment to sign in PRO to let lawmakers know that contributing our lived experiences, time, and expertise is valuable!

This is all you need to do:

1. Select "PRO" in position

2. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

February 7, 2022: Cut off date for bills to move out of fiscal committees (where lawmakers decide if state funds should go to the bills presented during the first half of session)

It's quiet right now because budget negotiations are happening before the Senate and House share their proposals next week!

January 31, 2022: BIG HEARINGS ALL WEEK and how to take action!

Tuesday, Feburary 1st 8am-10am: Guaranteed Basic Income hearing HB2009

Sign in PRO using this link.

1. Select "PRO" in position

2. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

 

Tuesday, Feburary 1st 1:30pm-3:30pm: Working Families Tax Credit Technical Fixes HB2096

Sign in PRO using this link.

1. Select "PRO" in position

2. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

Tuesday, Feburary 1st 4pm-6pm: Wealth Tax Hearing SB5426 

Sign in PRO using this link. 

1. Select "PRO" in position

2. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

 

Tuesday, Feburary 1st 4pm-6pm: Property Tax Exemption Hearing SB5463

Sign in CON using this link

1. Select "CON" in position

2. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

 

Friday, Feburary 4th 9am: Stipends for Lived Experiences Hearing SB5793

Sign in PRO using this link. 

1. Select "PRO" in position

2. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

 

January 25, 2022: Hearing on SB 5769 & thank you Scarlett and Cori!

Shout out to Scarlett for testifying on SB 5769 this morning and Cori for submitting written testimony! Thank you two for showing up for our families, caregivers, and children!

 

Cori's written testimony

My name is Cori Domschot, and I am the mother of two children aged 4 and 19 months. I am also a member of MomsRising, a grassroots advocacy organization that ensures that families, caregivers, and children can thrive. I am submitting written testimony in strong opposition of SB 5769.

Two years into this pandemic and corresponding economic hardship, we know folks in Washington are hurting. More than ever, we need to fully fund our schools, ensure quality healthcare for anyone who needs it, and provide stability for our families.
 

The capital gains tax passed last year was the most equitable change to our tax code in the last 80 years. With it came the promise of $500 million per year for child care, early learning, and other educational services. SB 5769 would be a huge blow to working parents, our kids, and communities across Washington.
 

As a working mother, I was unable to return to work after having my son due to the cost of childcare. Moreover, after having severe postpartum depression with my daughter, my husband was forced to quit his job to care for me and our family because childcare is unaffordable. For two months my family was divided with me being housed with my parents and them taking care of my daughter while I was at work. This limited the shifts I could take and the hours I could work. 
 

We looked into part time childcare for our children so that my husband could easily accept interviews. For part time care for our daughter only it was over $600/week. That would mean my entire paycheck would go to my daughter being in care, this would not pay for after school care for my Autistic son. When I asked about subsidized childcare I was told I didn't qualify. 
 

However, when the Fair Start for Kids Act passed last year along with Washington’s first ever capital gains tax which would fund the former, families like mine were ecstatic that there would be ongoing funding to meet the tremendous needs from working families across the state. 
 

As you know, our tax code is upside down – the wealthiest people and companies are not required by Washington to contribute what they truly owe our communities in taxes. This means, even as our population has grown, legislators have not been able to write budgets to adequately meet our needs - today, parents can’t afford child care, kids are learning in crumbling schools, families are going hungry, and far too many are in danger of eviction or can’t find a home they can afford to begin with. Setting aside the one-time federal aid, our state’s operating budget is still smaller than it was before the great recession.
 

SB 5769 would impact progressive investments into social safety nets, like the Fair Start for Kids Act. The Fair Start for Kids Act will make child care more affordable and is an investment in working families like mine. 
 

To this day unaffordable childcare still impacts my family and me. I continue to struggle to work my full time schedule around opportunities for my husband to return to the workforce. 

 

If we are to truly address the immediate needs of our communities we must fund –not chip away at – the things that actually ensure the financial well-being of Washington families.

 

With Regards,

Cori Domschot

January 24, 2022: QUICK ACTION and how to watch the hearing on HB 1888!

Sign in CON on SB 5769 so that we MAINTAIN the capital gains tax which would ensure continued investments in early learning and childcare through the Fair Start for Kids Act.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate...
1. Select "con" in position

2. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

Lawmakers will be focusing on our state's tax system tomorrow from 8-10am and we need to let #WALeg know that we want progressive revenue policies to ensure that families, children, communities, and small businesses can thrive!

 

TUNE IN HERE to watch the hearing on HB 1888 at 10am!

January 20, 2022: SIGN IN PRO on HB 1888!

Do you remember our work in passing the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) last year?

Well, HB 1888, the bill to ensure a more equitable roll out of the WFTC, has been scheduled for a hearing on Monday, 1/24 @ 10:00am in the House Finance Committee! We need people to sign in “Pro” to let our lawmakers know that we want to remove as many barriers as possible for families to access this credit starting in 2023. Here's how you can do that:

  1. Go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=House...
  2. Select "pro" in position
  3. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

 

January 19, 2022: Exciting news! Dental therapy now has a bill number -- HB 1885!

Let's work to pass HB 1885 so that we finally take the steps to address an inequitable oral health system.

How can you do this? Take a second to let our lawmakers know why this bill is a step in the right direction.

https://action.momsrising.org/.../2022.../

 

January 18, 2022: Follow SB 5793 on reimbursements for people with lived experience who serve on legislative work groups so their expertise and time is respected.

Have you been a part of a workgroup, committee, or panel with a state agency and had to jump through hoops to get a reimbursement, or participated without a stipend? This bill is hoping to change that! Sen. Wilson is sponsoring a bill to allow stipends for people with "lived experience" who participate on state boards, commissions, councils, committees and other similar groups. The bill is also posed to create a workgroup to actually create a process and policies for all state agencies to follow to create equity in this process! 

 

AND ALSO IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, sign our petition to let our lawmakers know we what we need to happen this legislative session! 

 

January 13, 2022: Hearing on expanding Paid Family and Medical Leave SB 5649.

SB 5649 would make more expansions to Paid Family and Medical Leave by:

  1. Allowing people to apply up to 45 days in advance of an expected leave;

  2. Extending family caregiving leaves up to 14 days after the death of the family member for whom the worker was providing care, or after the death of a newborn or stillborn child;

  3. Allowing people to take medical leave during the first 6 weeks after giving birth without requiring additional medical certification.

Our leader Lauren highlighted the impact Paid Family and Medical Leave would have on families, mothers, and caregivers if applying to it was more streamlined and simple. Thank you for representing all of us and letting law makers know why we need to continue to make this program more accessible.
 

 

January 6, 2022: Help us show support on expanding Paid Family and Medical Leave SB 5649!

1. Go to: https://bit.ly/3GgoE8r

2. Select "pro" in position

3. Provide your name, email, city, state, zip code, and phone; you can write "Parent" OR "MomsRising member" for the organization

 

 

Resources

Legislative Toolkit (English)
Kit de herramientas legislativo (español)

The toolkit goes step by step in how to organize and have a successful meeting. There are scripts and templates you can use, so you don’t need to worry about planning word for word what you will say. In this toolkit, we also go into the issues we will focus on next session so you have a better idea of the issue areas we will advocate and organize for.

Legislative agenda (English)
Agenda legislativa (español)

Our legislative agenda next year will include new and equitable legislation and build upon our historic wins to ensure that they are accessible to as many families, mothers, and caregivers as possible. 


Share your story (English)

 


Comparte tu historia (español)

By collecting stories, we can make sure lawmakers know what our communities exactly need. On our end, we will make sure that lawmakers receive your stories and advocate for us. 

 

News release

MomsRising Hails WA Legislators for Passing Paid Family Leave Bill

April 21, 2007
Paid Family & Medical Leave

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Governor Expected to Sign; New Online Activist Group Generated Thousands of Legislative Contacts, Held ‘Power of ONEsie’ Event in Support of Measure
MomsRising, the rapidly-growing grassroots online organization for moms (and anyone who has a mom), today hailed Washington legislators for sending Governor Chris Gregoire a strong paid family leave insurance bill. MomsRising was a driving force behind the measure, generating more than ten thousand emailed letters to legislators, as well as calls and deliveries of cookies, flowers and Polaroid photos of parents and children who would benefit from this long overdue policy. Last month, MomsRising held a “Power of ONEsie” display, exhibiting more than 300 specially-decorated baby outfits on the State Capital Campus.
 
“This is a huge victory for Washington’s mothers, fathers children and families,” said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, who lives in Kirkland. “We thank State Senator Lisa Brown for her unwavering support of this bill, and her colleagues in the House and Senate for standing up to the corporate lobbyists who strongly opposed this family-friendly measure. Having a baby is a leading cause of a poverty spell in this country. This new law will help Washington families stay out of poverty, and give Washington’s children a healthy start. We look forward to Governor Gregoire signing it so families can take the leave they need when new babies arrive.”
 
The bill establishes five weeks of paid leave of up to $250 per week for qualifying workers who need to care for new children, beginning on October 1, 2009. Paid leave must be taken concurrently with the unpaid leave the federal Family & Medical Leave Act provides. The new law also establishes a joint task force on family leave insurance that will make recommendations about future permanent financing by January 1, 2008.
 
Washington will become the second state to adopt paid family leave. California passed a paid leave bill in 2002; it has been in effect since 2004. According to a recent report by Dr. Jody Heymann of Harvard and McGill Universities, the United States is one of just four countries (of 173 studied) that does not guarantee paid maternity leave – the others are Liberia, Papua New Guinea and Swaziland.
 

# # # #

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.

News release

MomsRising.org Delivers the Real Story on Health Care Coverage for Kids

August 12, 2008
Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Moms Organization Presents California Legislators with Booklet of Stories Illustrating the Need for Universal Health Care Coverage for California Children to State Legislators
As California kids head back to school, California moms are urging legislators to “hit the books,” too, and learn why even in this tough budget year, it makes economic sense to provide health care coverage for all children. Today, MomsRising.org, the online grassroots organization for moms and everyone who has a mom, delivered a bound collection of personal stories from its California members about the importance of health care coverage for children. The booklets each contain 44 stories of California families who need or who have health care coverage.
 
“Providing health care coverage for all children is a fiscally sound policy that will ultimately save the state millions more dollars than it costs,” said MomsRising.org Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “Right now, approximately 763,000 children in California have no health care coverage. That’s 763,000 kids who can’t get treatment for asthma, strep throat, diabetes or other common ailments without visiting emergency rooms and plunging their families into debt.”
 
A study of nine local Children's Health Initiatives (CHI) in California, conducted by the Center for Community Health Services at the University of Southern California, found that providing children health insurance reduced hospitalizations in the CHI counties by 25 percent and saved up to $7.35 million annually in preventable hospitalizations. If all low-income children had health insurance, the state could save $24.3 million per year in preventable hospitalizations.
 
Stories in the booklet, include the following:
 
My children Dane and Aubrey have both been on Medi-Cal while my husband, their dad, attends dental school full time at University of the Pacific in San Francisco and we work hard to make ends meet…
 
…But last March, Aubrey came down with a mysterious illness: a 104 degree fever, vomiting, and pain in her side. Two trips to the Emergency Room led her to treatment for a kidney infection. However, when her symptoms were uncontrollable, not responding to antibiotics and fever reducers, doctors admitted her to the pediatric ward, fearing she might also have appendicitis. Many needles, ultrasounds, urine samples, and a CaT scan later, doctors were finally able to make a full and thorough diagnosis -- and provide a treatment plan that worked…
 
…Thanks to Medi-Cal, I didn’t hesitate to seek medical attention as soon as I knew something was wrong -- so Aubrey was able to get the most effective care before her condition worsened or became more expensive to treat. I am so, so grateful for that.
 
-- Anjie, Sausalito, CA
 
… Healthy Families has been our savior with regards to keeping our son safely covered. When he fell and tore open his lip two months ago, thanks to Healthy Families I was able to simply call his pediatrician and ascertain that he did not need stitches rather than drag him to the emergency room. We still have money worries aplenty, but with Healthy Families we are able to sleep at night knowing our son's medical needs will be provided for.
 
-- Morgan, Pasadena, CA
 
… We were charged in excess of $2000 for 3 hours in the Emergency Room at Glendale Memorial Hospital. It was on a Sunday and our pediatrician wasn't in the office to give us a prescription for a steroid we needed to help our son. He had a bad case of the croup which had been diagnosed the day before in the same pediatrician's office! We didn't need to go to the hospital. We'd been through a case of the croup before. We recognized all the signs and knew what we needed. But due to liability issues, our pediatrician wouldn't give us the prescription over the phone. So essentially, we were charged $2200 for an office visit at the hospital.
 
-- Amber, Los Angeles, CA
 
When my son was 12 years old, he got appendicitis. If I had had a health plan, he would have gone to the doctor immediately for a "tummy ache" and vomiting. We cared for him all weekend, but by Monday morning, when he still couldn't keep anything down, I took him to the doctor as soon as his office opened. Fortunately, our wonderful Dr. Sachs was willing to see my children and bill me later. Still, by the time we took him in, his appendix had ruptured. His office called the local hospital a few blocks away, and was told that unless we had $5,000.00 cash to give them on admission, they would not treat him. We drove that terribly sick boy in terrible pain 25 miles through LA traffic to the county hospital where some of my neighbors were residents. They saved his life, and let me pay over the next several years.
 
-- Joann, Los Angeles, CA
 
I am a doctor in an Emergency Room in California. EVERY DAY I see patients that have either delayed going to the doctor because they have no insurance and are now really sick, or tell me they won't be able to get the antibiotics I am prescribing, or actually leave without being seen for a very serious matter when they are told what the bill may be. Many people across the country just have to come to the ER because we can't turn them away while an office practice can. Which means they get a bill for 1000 dollars instead of one hundred dollars for the same treatment.
 
-- Andrea, Ukiah, CA
 
The booklet delivery is part of MomsRising.org’s ongoing effort, in collaboration with The 100% Campaign, to encourage the California legislature to include universal health care coverage for children in health care reform. The 100% Campaign is a collaborative effort of Children Now, Children's Defense Fund, and The Children's Partnership.

# # # #

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.

News release

Groton Mom Testifies Before U.S. Senate Subcommittee About Need for Paid Sick Days

November 10, 2009
Paid Sick Days

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Desiree Rosado, a mother of three living in Groton, Connecticut, today shared with U.S. Senators the difficulty she and her husband face if they have to miss work and a paycheck whenever they or their children are sick. Rosado was testifying before the Subcommittee on Children and Families of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.
 
“We are trying to pay down debts and make our family financially stable, but it’s a hard road,” Rosado told the Subcommittee in her testimony. “And it’s made it a lot harder because whenever we get sick or our children get sick, we have to decide whether to stay home without pay, or to disregard doctor’s orders and risk getting sicker and infecting other by going to work or school.”
 
The Rosados are among 57 million working people across the United States who do not have paid sick leave and are forced to go without pay if they or any of their children are sick. Desiree works for the Groton Public School System in special education as a one-on-one assistant and her husband is a security guard supervisor at the Groton Naval Submarine base.
 
This fall, all three Rosado children came down with the flu, and had to stay home to recover and to prevent the illness from spreading to their schoolmates and teachers. Desiree Rosado had to miss two weeks of work – and forgo two weeks of pay – to care for her children.
 
“When I don’t get paid, it wreaks havoc on our family budget,” said Rosado. “My husband handles the finances and is able to juggle things around so we can make ends meet, but sometimes we have to borrow from the rent money we’ve put aside. We hate to do that, but sometimes we have no choice.”
 
Rosado was testifying in support of the Healthy Families Act, which would guarantee workers up to seven paid sick days a year to recover from their own illness or care for a sick family member.
 
Rosado is a member of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization for moms (and anyone who has a mom) that supports family-friendly policies, including paid sick days.
 

# # # #

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.

News release

This Time, Candy Is Good For Your Health!

March 27, 2009
Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

MomsRising.org to Deliver Lifesavers to State Legislators to Advocate for Expanding Health Care Coverage for California Kids
California moms are urging state lawmakers to take advantage of health care funds that the U.S. Congress and President Obama have given the state to ensure that more children get health care coverage. MomsRising.org, the online grassroots organization for moms and everyone who has a mom, will deliver candy lifesavers with messages from thousands of members across the state to California legislators, encouraging them to act soon to secure all available funds for California kids:
 
12 PM, Tuesday, March 31
North side of the State Capitol Building (on L Street)
Sacramento
 
Volunteers will deliver more than 1,500 lifesavers and messages to legislators, including:
 
My daughter was born with a rare genetic condition that makes private health insurance out of our reach. Please don't leave her and the rest of CA kids high and dry!
 
Candy is dandy but health care is a lifesaver! Healthy kids mean better school attendance and improved life skills, a chance to get ahead and be productive workforce members. that means more taxes paid to fund our economy. Parents with healthy kids do not have to take off work to help them!!
 
You can-dy-liver Health Care for our kids!
 
MomsRising.org is delivering these “sweet” messages to let lawmakers know that covering uninsured kids is a priority for California families. As the economic crisis deepens, thousands of parents find themselves turning to state-funded health care programs like California’s Healthy Families. Programs like these, which are more affordable FOR FAMILIES, can be a real lifesaver for children who have no other way to get medical coverage. Approximately 683,000 children in California are uninsured.
 
MomsRising.org Campaign Directors Ashley Boyd and Anita Jackson will on-site at the State Capitol to discuss the campaign.
 

# # # #

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.

Statement

MomsRising Statement On the Six Month Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

September 22, 2010
Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

STATEMENT OF Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and Co-Founder of MomsRising, On the Six Month Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
While some politicians, pundits and prognosticators have taken to the airwaves to insist that the Affordable Care Act is too complicated, cumbersome and doomed to failure, people who are actually affected by the new law are excited about its implementation. How do we know that? They’re telling us.
 
MomsRising has been encouraging moms, dads, grandparents and others to share their feelings about health reform on our web site and the response has been overwhelming. Across the country, families are breathing a collective sigh of relief knowing that loved ones who were previously unable to get health care or who were in danger of being cut off from health care will be able to get the treatment they need.
 
Today marks not only the six month anniversary of this important law, but also the day that a number of provisions go into effect that will curb health insurance industries’ worst abuses. These new provisions include: A ban on insurance companies discriminating against kids with pre-existing conditions, a ban on insurance companies dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and a ban on insurance companies limiting coverage by imposing lifetime caps on coverage.
 
Health reform is helping families. It’s helping kids who couldn’t be covered under their parents’ plans because of pre-existing conditions. It’s helping young adults who are uninsured obtain coverage under their parents’ plans. It’s helping parents whose children have serious health conditions not worry that their insurance will run out because of lifetime caps. And it’s helping parents and grandparents all over the country sleep a little easier at night, knowing their families have greater health care security.
 
Today we celebrate new protections for health insurance consumers and we look forward to seeing this important law realize its promise to help keep our families and our nation healthier. And to the politicians, pundits and prognosticators who want to repeal and defund this law, we say, “No, you can’t!”
 

MEDIA NOTE: To read about how the Affordable Care Act is helping moms, dads and others in their own words, please visit our story map at http://www.momsrising.org/blog/stories-map/?topic=healthcare.
 

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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.

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