News – Page 52

February 19, 2021 by pbcnow

Violence Against Women Act 2021 Update

The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, dedicated to protecting and improving the Violence Against Women Act, has many working groups dealing with issues and constituencies. All of them have been meeting and have made suggested fixes and improvements to VAWA, working from the 2013 bill and also last year’s house bill which had modest changes and improvements.

This year’s bill will deal with important racial justice measures, a new immigration section and serving culturally specific services and organizations. We are meeting as I write this (don’t tell them I’m multitasking) to produce a final draft of the VAWA 2021 reauthorization act.

Thanks to any and all of you who made suggested improvements and fixes. We are working with our champions in the House and the Senate to settle on just which member will be the lead sponsor of the VAWA reauth (it’s a big bill and a lot of work for any Member and their staff). So keep tuned for an announcement in the weeks ahead, where we’ll be asking you to get House and Senate sponsors to be original co-sponsors and also to add their names as sponsors after the bill has been “dropped in” and gets a number. Needless to say, the more Republicans, the merrier.

The Biden Administration has promised to sign, and work on, VAWA 2020 as soon as it’s sent to them. We also need a confirmed Attorney General and additional staffing in key departments to continue enforcing and implementing VAWA. File this in your “coming soon” file.

Great briefing the Violence Against Women’s Act.

https://www.facebook.com/GwenSMoore/videos/446074393409518

Relevant resources:

National Network to End Domestic Violence

VAWA Factsheet: https://nnedv.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/VAWA-Reauthorization-2020.pdf
NNEDV 14^th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report: https://nnedv.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Library_Census-2019_Report_web.pdf
State and U.S. Territory summaries: https://nnedv.org/content/domestic-violence-counts-14th-annual-census-report/

National Indigenous Resource center

https://www.niwrc.org/sites/default/files/restoration.17.3.pdf

Raliance

Other Information, reading, and exciting webinar on advocacy:

How to turn your red state blue: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/opinion/stacey-abrams-georgia-election.html

Addressing America’s Legacy of Racism and Systemic Discrimination

https://www.aclu.org/news/topic/systemic-equality-addressing-americas-legacy-of-racism-and-systemic-discrimination/

February 16, 2021 by pbcnow

Virtual Companions for connection, compassion, community

“Virtual Companions is a national nonprofit working to foster acts of kindness and meaningful companionships between generations through conversation, community, and the arts. We hope to reduce loneliness and provide social support and community to the people who stand to benefit the most through 4 programs: phone-pal, pen-pal, cards & crafts, and virtual concerts.

We strive to engage all generations in service and in empathy and to leverage technology in a way that facilitates meaningful connections. In times of tragedy, fear, and isolation, we need connection, compassion, and community more than ever.”

https://www.virtualcompanions.org/

February 16, 2021 by pbcnow

The White House Is Taking Women’s Issues Seriously. Really.

From The NYTimes IN HER WORDSFeb 16, 2021:

“A revived panel, the Gender Policy Council, will look different from councils past. For starters, it will report directly to the president.”

“This is not just a council. It’s a plan to take a government-wide approach to gender equity.”

— Jennifer Klein, co-chair of President Biden’s new Gender Policy Council

February 15, 2021 by pbcnow

Reforming the Criminal Justice System

The Delray Beach Democratic Club offered a program on the urgent issue of Florida’s broken criminal justice system. A better panel could not be assembled! Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, PBC Public Defender Carey Haughwout, and Executive Director, ACLU of Florida, Dr. Micah W. Kubic takes us through some of the injustices and racial inequities that are legally embedded into our criminal “justice” system. They are the most committed and hardest workers seeking to end those injustices.

February 8, 2021 by pbcnow

NOW Is Proud to Support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act

Released on February 8, 2021

Historic Legislative Package to End Maternal Mortality and Close Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Outcomes

NOW is proud to endorse the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, a historic legislative package unveiled today by Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Alma Adams (NC-12), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 will build on existing maternal health legislation, like policies to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage, with 12 bills to comprehensively address every dimension of America’s maternal health crisis. It makes investments in social determinants of health, community-based organizations, the growth and diversification of the perinatal workforce, improvements in data collection, and support for moms and babies exposed to climate change-related risks. In addition to direct efforts to improve Black maternal health outcomes, the Momnibus focuses on high-risk populations, including veterans, incarcerated people, Native Americans, and other women and birthing people of color.

The United States has the highest pregnancy-related death rate in the developed world and the only rate that is rising. The maternal mortality rate is significantly higher among Black women, who are three to four times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications. Other birthing people of color, including Hispanic, Native American, and AAPI women, also suffer from disproportionate rates of adverse maternal health outcomes.

“Black and Brown mothers have been suffering at the hands of an inequitable American health care system for centuries, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made this painful fact clearer than ever,” said Christian F. Nunes, president of the National Organization for Women. “This is a crisis we cannot ignore a moment longer, and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act will begin the work of closing the maternal health care gap and getting all moms the medical care they need and deserve.”

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is composed of 12 individual bills. The legislation will provide funding to community–based organizations working to improve maternal health outcomes and promote equity, invest in programs to support maternal mental health, and much more.

Contact: Press Team, press@now.org,

Advocating for Women & Girls