Meng, Sen. Klobuchar, And Sen. Duckworth Introduce Legislation Seeking To Prioritize And Empower Mothers In The Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Mom Economy Resolution, bicameral legislation that lays out a plan to promote and empower mothers in the workforce and highlight the need for the United States to prioritize mom-nomics.

The measure is an expansion of the Marshall Plan for Moms, which the lawmakers introduced during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, that sought to revitalize and restore mothers in the workforce, as millions of moms had to leave their jobs during the pandemic to take on increased caregiving responsibilities at home.

The new Mom Economy Resolution reaffirms the commitment to helping moms and doing so beyond the coronavirus outbreak, continuing to prioritize mothers through investments in paid leave and childcare programs, SNAP, the child tax credit and increasing the federal minimum wage. The legislation now includes additional provisions seeking to assist LGBTQ+ mothers and maternal care/family planning resources.

“Moms are a vital part of the U.S. economy,” said Meng. “It is estimated that if one percent of mothers moved from full time work to part time, families would earn an estimated $5 billion less in wages per year. When Moms succeed, America succeeds. It's time we prioritize mom-nomics and recognize the cornerstone that mothers are in our labor force, which is exactly what the Mom Economy Resolution does. This measure builds on my Marshall Plan for Moms to support mothers in the workforce and ensure they have the resources needed to thrive."

“For far too many moms across our country, the struggle to find high-quality, affordable child care, a robust paid leave plan, and mental health resources can serve as a barrier to reentering and remaining in the workforce,” said Klobuchar. “This resolution recognizes the burden on working moms and the need to help mothers in the workforce with child care and other support.”

“In order to truly build an economy that is stronger than it was when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we must confront the crises facing working moms all across our nation and stop treating their time as both expendable and endless,” said Duckworth. “That’s why I’m proud to help introduce this resolution with Senator Klobuchar and Congresswoman Meng that recognizes the additional responsibilities that mothers have been handed throughout this pandemic and underscores the need to pass policies that would help moms succeed in our workforce—from paid leave to affordable childcare and beyond.”

“American moms today need things to change – from the way we see their role in the economy, to the value we place on caregiving – and the Mom Economy Resolution spells out the commonsense ways to do this,” said Sharita Gruberg, Vice President for Economic Justice at the National Partnership for Women & Families. “It’s unconscionable that the basic needs of working families remain unmet in 2023, but with policies like paid family and medical leave, and thanks to the efforts of Rep. Meng, Sen. Klobuchar and Sen. Duckworth, we can get much closer to our goal.”

“The Mom Economy Resolution is a blueprint for the progress America’s moms and families need,” said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “We thank Senators. Amy Klobuchar and Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Grace Meng, and all the cosponsors, for championing this resolution, which makes a powerful case for the care infrastructure that will make our country more successful, including a robust paid family and medical leave program, universal child care and early learning, improved access to nutritious food through SNAP and school meals, a permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit to reduce child poverty, better health care, a higher minimum wage, and more. Moms, families, businesses, and our country will be stronger if lawmakers pass all these measures right away.” 

Meng, Klobuchar, and Duckworth introduced the resolution ahead of this Sunday’s National Parents Day, the annual observance held on the fourth Sunday of each July.

A copy of the resolution can be viewed here.