Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) joined the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) for a Mother’s Day press conference recognizing moms across the country and calling for action on the policies that will help them thrive. The press conference also included remarks from Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, DWC Vice Chair Nikema Williams, DWC Vice Chair Teresa Leger Fernández, Executive Vice President of MomsRising Donna Norton, and moms from across the country who shared their stories fighting for the policies that will help women thrive.

This Mother’s Day, moms don’t want just chocolate and flowers—they want care policies that actually deliver quality affordable child care and elder care, they want their reproductive rights protected, and much more. The Democratic Women’s Caucus—many of whom are moms themselves—specifically called for House Republicans to back up their empty “pro-family” rhetoric with actual action that will help moms this Mother’s Day.

“What moms need is not just flowers and chocolates this weekend — we need policies that will actually give us the independence and support we need to raise our family and thrive in this country,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “As one of the only mothers of a young child in Congress, I know firsthand how much we need solutions so women can be paid the same as our male colleagues, have access to affordable child care and high-quality early childhood education, and have control over when and if we decide to start a family.”

“Over the last 16 months, House Republicans have waged a daily assault on everything that moms care about most – from child care and housing to reproductive freedom and health care. Today, the women of the House Democratic Caucus are standing with moms across America to say: enough is enough,” said Whip Clark. “Moms want leaders who put their freedom above all else and policies that put people over politics. House Democrats are committed to delivering on a future that works for women and works for working families.”

Congresswoman Williams said, “Moms are smart, and moms are resourceful. We know that we need Congressional action to solve the numerous crises Republicans created. Democrats will continue to lead on the policies mamas need, including protecting access to reproductive freedom and investing in childcare so every family has a chance at the opportunity of America.”

“As we celebrate Mother's Day, there are still some Republicans who forget that the best present would be to honor what mothers need,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. “We need health care. We need childcare. We need respect as women. Instead, 184 House Republicans co-sponsored a bill that would make it harder for women to access IVF nationwide and many others have taken a sledgehammer to bills that would help women. Let us all use our power to fight for women to respect women, to give women and mothers the policies that they need, and they deserve.”

“Moms are superheroes every day, but we shouldn’t have to be,” said Donna Norton, Executive Vice President of MomsRising.  “We celebrate passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP Act, and investments in maternal health care, prescription drugs, and child care. We will continue fighting by the side of Democratic Women’s Caucus members for the solutions moms need, including greater investments in child care, as well as aging and disability care; fair pay for care workers; a national paid family and medical leave program; secure access to reproductive freedom; and a permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit. America needs a care economy.” 

“It shouldn’t be this hard for parents to work, care for ourselves and care for our families,” said Nancy Pontius, a MomsRising member from Warminster, Pennsylvania, who was pushed out of the workforce due to lack of pregnancy accommodations and paid leave and has been unable to return because there is no affordable child care. “We need comprehensive investments so all parents can find and afford the high-quality child care they need to hold jobs. We also need a robust paid family and medical leave program. Still, this Mother’s Day, I’m hopeful, because I know progress is possible.”

“I thank all of you for securing another $1 billion for child care in the FY24 budget, and $100 million more to address our country’s maternal health crisis,” said Krystal Judah, a MomsRising member, doula, and mental health counselor from Wisconsin. “But there’s more to be done and this Mother’s Day, moms are counting on lawmakers to pass the Momnibus Act, invest $16 billion for child care, guarantee all working people paid family and medical leave, and protect women’s access to reproductive health care. We need more than doulas supporting women during their birthing and motherhood journeys. We need to eliminate systemic barriers that harm women, our health, our bodies, our babies and our families.”