From the desk of Debra Ness

Dear John,

This is not the message I thought I'd be writing you this month. But here we are, in the midst of a global pandemic and public health crisis that have changed our lives and our country overnight.

As a mom, daughter, grandma and sister, I am learning new ways to connect safely and digitally with my loved ones and neighbors. Here at the National Partnership, we are adapting to having virtual hallway conversations and team meetings via video from our homes.

Staying in community with each other even while we're apart has made this challenging time a little more bearable.

It's hard to imagine that this is only the beginning of a long and uncertain transition from life before coronavirus to life during and eventually after. But that's exactly what this moment is - the
dawning of a new normal and a new era for our country and the world.

We all must do our part to slow the spread, save lives and ensure that our nation emerges from this more equitable and fair. You can be assured that the National Partnership is committed to doing just that.

Journalist and anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells once said, "The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them."

Well, there's no denying that this pandemic has exposed huge flaws and inequities in our nation's social safety net that have been downplayed and ignored for far too long. Food insecurity. Access to safe and affordable housing. Race and gender-based wage gaps. Access to paid sick days and paid leave. The list of "wrongs" goes on and on and on.

The country has woken up to the fact that we are all in this together, and the health, well-being and economic survival of the lowest-wage workers are just as important as keeping businesses afloat during this crisis. And the role women play is absolutely essential from providing health care on the frontlines, helping keep our grocery stores open, delivering food, filling prescriptions, ensuring that our children and elderly parents are cared for, and so much more.

But so far, our nation's emergency coronavirus response is falling short of providing the comprehensive economic support that people need during this pandemic. As you'll see in one of the
updates below, we did make some progress on the paid sick days and paid leave front that will provide vital support for millions of workers. And we've taken big steps toward making our
Unemployment Insurance system a meaningful lifeline. But there are still so many urgent needs to meet and so much more work to be done.

We MUST get this right. Our nation's response must right many wrongs, protect all U.S. workers and close devastating gaps in quality of life.

I look forward to doing this work with you and alongside you in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank you! Please stay safe and be healthy.

My best,

- Debra

Debra Ness
President

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Behind the scenes: advancing historic paid sick days and paid leave support for U.S. workers.

Our Economic Justice team has been leading the National Partnership's around-the-clock advocacy for the millions of people who don't have paid sick days or paid leave during this coronavirus crisis.

A typical day for our program teams involves collaborating with staff on Capitol Hill, leading coalition calls that top 150 people, doing media interviews, analyzing new data and polling numbers, writing issues briefs and more. Over the past two weeks, that work has continued in earnest from their homes while simultaneously balancing the unique challenges and emotional toll of life under lockdown. One creative member of our team is using puzzle boxes to boost her monitor to the right height for video meetings.

It's been a rollercoaster effort for all of our teams, but I'm pleased to report that we helped make history last week when Congress passed the nation's first national paid sick days and paid leave
bill. While we're deeply disappointed that GOP members gutted some of the stronger provisions we fought for in the original bill, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act is still historic.

We have a down payment on our efforts, and we intend to build on it until every worker is covered.

Must reads:

Women and the Hidden Burden of the Coronavirus: [link removed]
The Hill, March 19, 2020
"Women also take on the majority of child care, eldercare and domestic responsibilities that put them further in front of outbreaks such as these. In the U.S., for example, more than 25 million women - almost 1 in 7 - provide care to family members or friends, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families."

Protecting Grocery Store Workers And Shoppers From COVID-19: [link removed]

Forbes, March 23, 2020
"While grocery store employee unions and organizations like the National Partnership for Women and Families have been advocating for paid sick leave for grocery store workers, there is no federal
requirement for paid sick leave, according to the Department of Labor."

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Saving moms: Black maternal health "Momnibus"

On March 10, the National Partnership helped launch the Black Maternal Health "Momnibus" - a historic package of bills we helped draft to address the devastating maternal mortality and morbidity problem in this country.

Black and native moms are dying from preventable pregnancy-related causes at an alarming rate that is over twice that of white women.

The Black Maternal Health "Momnibus" is the answer women have waited too long to hear from Congress. And we owe tremendous thanks to Representatives Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams and the Black Maternal Health Caucus - for leading the charge.

The National Partnership is fighting on all fronts to ensure the maternal health crisis doesn't fall off the radar, especially now when the coronavirus threatens to exacerbate already dire maternal health outcomes.

Must read:

National Partnership Endorses Black Maternal Health Act of 2020 "Momnibus":[link removed]

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Partner spotlight: Gender Equity Voting Collaborative

Earlier this month, the National Partnership helped launch the Gender Equity Voting Collaborative, a joint initiative between When We All Vote, the United State of Women, and women's organizations that work in communities across the country.

Together, we're working to ensure that all women, from all communities, and across generations, are registered and ready to cast their ballots.

Learn more about the Gender Equity Voting Collaborative in this exclusive op-ed for Shondaland, co-authored by United State of Women executive director Jordan Brooks and former senior advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett.

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Phone: (202) 986-2600
Fax: (202) 986-2539
Email: [email protected]
Web: [link removed]

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