WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced that they will be releasing $39 billion of American Rescue Plan funds to states, territories and tribes to address the child care crisis caused by COVID-19. The funds will help the early childhood educators and child care providers who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic keep or reopen their businesses. The We Demand More Coalition, a group of organizations fighting for women workers and caretakers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, released the following statement:
“We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to delivering relief to the child care industry and parents, especially mothers. This $39 billion investment will deliver immediate assistance to those who need it most. The work of the We Demand More Coalition and the millions of supporters in the gender justice movement achieved this win for women, particularly Black, Indigenous and other women of color. This is a welcome first step and we look forward to working with the administration and Congress to move beyond providing immediate relief to the child care industry and invest in a permanent, equitable national child care infrastructure that builds back better for all women.” said Angela Cobián, Director of the We Demand More coalition.
Since March 2020, the We Demand More Coalition has called on Congress and the White House to provide direct COVID-19 relief for women, children, and families. This included launching a $300,000 digital ad campaign across 19 news sites, condemning Mitch McConnell and the Republican Senate Majority for continually failing to provide women and frontline families with critical COVID-19 relief support. We Demand More played a critical role in the passing of the American Rescue Plan Act by driving thousands of supporter calls to members of Congress. Following the recent passage of the ARPA, the coalition sent a letter to the Biden-Harris Administration and Congressional leadership calling for the next COVID-19 recovery package to prioritize support for women and women of color, who have been the backbone of our economy, including an equitable national vaccination program, continued support for the child care industry, national paid family and medical leave, increased abortion access, and a national $15 minimum wage.
About We Demand More
Formed in 2020, We Demand More is a coalition of organizations using our collective power to fight for the courageous women workers and caretakers, especially women of color, who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis and who are particularly impacted. Their lives, livelihoods, and families depend on lawmakers and business leaders doing more — and we need everyone to demand more. We’ve formed the We Demand More coalition to fight for four demands from Congress and corporate leaders:
More information on the We Demand More coalition can be found on its website at www.WeDemandMore.org and its letter to Congress can be found here. Below is a full list of the We Demand More coalition’s members:
Endorsement is an indication of solidarity within our movement and a recognition of the urgency of these policies. Endorsement does not necessarily mean that orgs have expertise in or are actively working towards each priority or policy listed.
Abortion Access Force
Advocates for Youth
All Women’s Progress
All* Above All Action Fund
African American Ministers In Action
American Association of University Women Action Fund
Birth In Color RVA
Black Women’s Roundtable
California National Organization for Women
Catholics for Choice
Center for American Progress Fund
Chicago Foundation for Women
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Daily Kos
DemCast USA
End Rape on Campus
Equal Pay Today
Equal Rights Advocates
Feminist Majority
Feminist Women’s Health Center
Free Speech For People
Global Justice Center
The Greenlining Institute
Hollaback!
Hopewell Fund
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Mass NOW
Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable
MomsRising Together
NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland
National Birth Equity Collaborative
National Black Justice Coalition
National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women – Connecticut chapter
National Women’s Health Network
National Women’s Law Center
New American Leaders Action Fund
New Century Trust
New Voices for Reproductive Justice
Paid Leave for All Action
PathWays PA
Period Equity
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Public Citizen
Resilience
ServeUSA
Sisters Lead Sisters Vote
SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective
Supermajority
Ultraviolet
United State of Women
URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
#VOTEPROCHOICE
Voto Latino
Women Employed
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island
Women’s March
