In the first few months of President Trump’s second term, the Administration has shown itself to be anything but pro-family – from stifling enforcement of key anti-discrimination protections, to attempting to dismantle the Department of Education, to gutting the federal agency in charge of enforcing essential protections for new and expectant mothers like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the impact these actions will have on moms’ ability to maintain their health and economic security and grow their families on their own terms will be detrimental.
This Mother’s Day, as we celebrate all the mothers in our lives and communities – including chosen moms, stepmoms, and adoptive or foster moms – we must also commit to resisting attacks on their rights and fighting for the protections they need and deserve. That means policies like federal paid family and medical leave and paid sick time, as well as guaranteed fair and flexible scheduling, and access to affordable childcare, all of which can help protect moms’ jobs and paychecks as they manage their health and caregiving needs. On the heels of Mom’s Equal Pay Day, which fell on May 6th this year, it’s clear that these supportive work-family policies are an important building block towards closing the wage gap for moms once and for all.
It also means defending hard-won progress like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP Act, two laws that have been lifelines for new and expectant mothers in need of accommodations, and which have also faced attacks in the courts. And finally, we must continue to defend access to essential reproductive healthcare such as abortion and IVF in order to preserve women’s bodily autonomy and ability to grow – or not grow – their families on their own terms.
While we, like many others, are disturbed by recent federal developments, we also know that moms are powerful in affecting change and fighting for justice. In fact, it was the brave voices and tireless advocacy of mothers who inspired the movement for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and fought for the law’s passage. As we celebrate all that moms do for us, the least we can do in return is pledge to defend their rights, in the workplace and beyond.
