“There’s no such thing as relief without addressing the caregiving crisis.”

Lisa Guide, co-founder of the Women Effect Action Fund (WEAF), issued the following statement on the plan Republicans proposed in response to President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. WEAFs recent survey in 10 battleground states revealed that voters from both parties are desperate for the government to focus on “care economy” issues like childcare, elder care, family and medical leave, and paid sick days–none of which the Republican plan fully addresses. 

“There’s no such thing as relief without addressing the caregiving crisis that COVID triggered for millions of working families–who are now fearfully watching reports of new virus variations that could make it even harder to care for their children, elders and loved ones.

“There’s no such thing as a public health plan that doesn’t address the paid sick leave and paid medical leave crises–which have been growing for a generation and accelerating for a year.

“Lawmakers must remember how critical women from both parties were to electing a pro-care economy presidency and majorities in Congress. Women voters played a critical role in the 2020 elections — and their message was clear: we need child care, elder care, family and medical leave, and paid sick days.

“Throwing women and families under the bus at the last minute would betray their hopes that the government will step up to address the hardship they and their loved ones have endured.

“WEAF’s recent survey makes clear that three out of four of all voters from both parties–in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and seven other battleground states–want the government to invest at least $775 billion in ‘care economy’ issues like child care, elder care, family and medical leave, and paid sick days.”

Biden’s American Rescue Plan Addresses the American Caregiving Crisis

According to reports, the Republican COVID-19 relief proposal totals $618 billion, which is roughly a third of the $1.9 trillion plan proposed by Biden and backed by congressional Democrats. Unlike the Republican plan, Biden’s American Rescue Plan would:

• Expand and extend the emergency paid family leave and paid sick days policies that Congress originally passed as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

• Ensure Americans can stay home when they’re sick to limit the spread of the virus and that parents with new caregiving responsibilities due to school and childcare closures are able to care for their children.

• Increase tax credits to help cover the cost of childcare, ensuring families will get back as a tax credit as much as half of their spending on childcare for children under age 13, for a total of up to $4,000 for one child or $8,000 for two or more children.

Women Were Instrumental in the 2020 Elections and Want Action On Care Policies

• Women voted at a higher rate than men and overwhelmingly backed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Fifty-seven percent of female voters supported Biden, compared with just 42 percent who supported Donald Trump.
  • NBC: “When President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office in January, he’ll have a group of voters to thank in particular for delivering him the White House: women.”
• Women propelled Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to victory in key battleground states and were critical to their takeback of the Rust Belt. 
  • Wisconsin: Biden won women by 13 points, 56 to 43.

• • Michigan: Biden won women by 14 points, 57 to 43.
  • Pennsylvania: Biden won women by 11 points, 55 to 44.

• Women made the decision to support Joe Biden against the backdrop of a pandemic that has forced them to take on new caregiving responsibilities and leave the workforce in droves and want leaders to prioritize passing care economy policies. 

• • Reuters: “Women in the United States have in many ways borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout. They have left the labor force at starkly higher rates than men, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, as they juggle homeschooling duties and childcare. Those able to stay employed are more often working frontline jobs, especially in medicine or social services.”

• • Women Effect Action Fund polling revealed that 77 percent of women voters across 10 battleground states support Biden’s plan to invest at least $775 billion in building a more resilient care system, including programs like childcare, elder and home care, and establishing a national paid family and medical leave program (Women Effect Action Fund post-election polling).

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Possible Subject Line:  Will Senator [Warner/Shaheen] Fight to Keep Care Economy Relief in the COVID bill?

Topper language for VA and NH:

With Senator [Warner/Shaheen] playing a key role in this week’s COVID-19 relief package negotiations, [Virginians/Granite Staters] are following closely to see if care economy relief–which affects millions of struggling families in [Virginia/New Hampshire] and across the country–is included in the final bill.

Polling from the Women Effect Action Fund (WEAF) shows that three out of four of all voters from both parties–in [Virginia/New Hampshire] and nine other battleground states–want the government to invest at least $775 billion in ‘care economy’ issues like child care, elder care, family and medical leave, and paid sick days.

Lisa Guide, co-founder of WEAF, issued the following statement on the plan Republicans proposed in response to President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.