As members of the Mamas’ Caucus, we are committed to advocating for mothers and working families, especially mothers of color. We must center mamas in the policies we develop and champion in Congress. We know that the costs of raising a child in our country are among the highest in the world, and that our policies too often leave behind working families. We must build childcare policies that support every family, and ones that ensure providers are paid a living wage.
We know that we are one of the only industrialized nations in the world that does not offer a single day of paid family and medical leave. In the richest nation in the history of the world, more than 30 million workers do not have access to a single day of paid leave. This is unacceptable.
In Michigan, we are in the midst of a Black infant and maternal health crisis. Our state has one of the highest death rates among Black pregnant people in the country because our systems and institutions have failed to provide our neighbors with the comprehensive, high-quality health care they deserve. We are also on the front lines of the fight for reproductive justice because we know that abortion care is health care.
When our government does not invest in our mamas and neglects their needs, we cannot be surprised when we experience a maternal health crisis, a childcare affordability crisis, and a reproductive justice crisis. As a mama and the Chair of the Mamas’ Caucus, I refuse to accept this status quo—for my neighbors, for my residents, and for mamas across the country.
You can read more about our work in the Mamas’ Caucus here and key legislation here.
Mamas’ Caucus members include:
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Chair and Co-Founder
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Co-Founder
Congresswoman Grace Meng, Co-Founder
Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Co-Founder
Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury
Congressman Lloyd Doggett
Congresswoman Judy Chu
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
Congressman Jimmy Gomez
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Congressman Maxwell Frost
Congresswoman Jill Tokuda
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Congresswoman Andrea Salinas
Congresswoman Summer Lee
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia
Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet
Congressman Tim Kennedy
Congresswoman LaMonica McIver
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
Congresswoman April McClain Delaney