Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.-13), and leaders of women’s advocacy organizations for a virtual roundtable discussion on the critical importance of passing the American Rescue Plan – particularly for women. The discussion can be viewed here.
“The coronavirus pandemic has hit women disproportionately hard, and women in Black, Latino, AAPI, and Native communities have been even more dramatically affected. In Nevada, we’ve also seen the devastating impacts that the pandemic has had on women in the service and hospitality industries. The relief plan being finalized in Congress right now will get more money into the hands of women across Nevada who are struggling to support their families and keep food on the table through enhanced unemployment benefits, targeted economic impact payments, and increased funding for child care and paid family leave. The plan also includes robust funding for women-owned small businesses and for Nevada’s hardest-hit hospitality industry, which employs so many in the Silver State. I’m doing all I can to make sure we extend relief programs and support Nevada’s women.”
BACKGROUND:
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, almost 2.5 million women having dropped out of the workforce. Today’s discussion focused on the challenges women are currently facing because of high unemployment, an uneven economic recovery, and a lack of access to child care. Senator Cortez Masto has continually called for more support for Nevada women in additional coronavirus relief legislation, and she is currently the cosponsor of legislation to expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families pay for the costs of child care.
In addition to the Vice President, Senators, and Congresswomen, participants in today’s event included:
- Melanie Campbell, Black Women’s Roundtable
- Alejandra Castillo, YWCA
- Fatima Goss Graves, National Women’s Law Center
- Jen Earle, National Association of Women Business Owners
- Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Moms Rising
- Tina Tchen, Time’s UP
- Debra Ness, National Partnerships for Women and Families
- President Fawn Sharp, National Congress of American Indians
- Mary Kay Henry, SEIU
- Johnnetta B. Cole, National Council of Negro Women
- Ai-jen Poo, National Domestic Workers/Caring Across Generations
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