National Womens Law Center

TO ADVANCE AND PROTECT WOMEN'S LEGAL RIGHTS.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS & HEALTH- ENGAGED AS AMICUS IN MAJOR CASES, INCLUDING IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN DOBBS V. JACKSON WOMEN'S HEALTH ORGANIZATION, DEMONSTRATING THE HARM TO INDIVIDUALS' EQUALITY AND ECONOMIC SECURITY IF THE COURT WERE TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE; IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ON BEHALF OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO FACED DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION; IN THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS ON BEHALF OF ABORTION PROVIDERS CHALLENGING RESTRICTIONS; IN THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS ON BEHALF OF YOUNG PEOPLE BARRED FROM GETTING GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE; AND IN THE PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT TO HELP CHALLENGE POLICIES THAT KEEP PATIENTS FROM GETTING THE ABORTION CARE THEY NEED. (TO BE CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O.)- IN SEPTEMBER 2021, FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT CHALLENGING AETNA'S DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AGAINST LGBTQI+ POLICYHOLDERS SEEKING INSURANCE COVERAGE OF FERTILITY TREATMENTS. - RESPONDED TO ABORTION BANS, INCLUDING HELPING TO IDENTIFY AND RECRUIT LAWYERS PREPARED TO DEFEND ABORTION ACCESS.- EDUCATED POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC, WHICH INCLUDED NWLC PRESIDENT AND CEO FATIMA GOSS GRAVES PROVIDING INVITED TESTIMONY IN THE SEPTEMBER 2021 SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING "TEXAS'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL ABORTION BAN AND THE ROLE OF THE SHADOW DOCKET; CONDUCTING TRAININGS ON SPEAKING ABOUT ABORTION AFFIRMATIVELY AND AUTHENTICALLY; AND PARTICIPATING IN KEY BRIEFINGS ON A RANGE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY ISSUES. - FOLLOWING THE LEAKED DRAFT OF THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION TAKING AWAY THE GUARANTEED NATIONWIDE RIGHT TO ABORTION, PUBLISHED A LEGAL ANALYSIS, LAUNCHED A RESOURCE HUB, AND EDUCATED AND ENGAGED VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND BRIEFINGS.- PROVIDED TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO A RANGE OF STATE-LEVEL PARTNERS WORKING TO DEFEAT HARMFUL MEASURES RESTRICTING OR BANNING ABORTION AND CONTRACEPTION WHILE ALSO PUSHING FORWARD PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS. - WORKED CLOSELY WITH COALITION PARTNERS TO CREATE THE LIBERATE ABORTION CAMPAIGN, MADE UP OF MORE THAN 150 NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, HEALTH, AND JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS. THE CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 2021 TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE ABORTION IS EQUITABLE AND AVAILABLE FOR ALL WHO NEED IT, WITHOUT SHAME OR STIGMA.- ISSUED THREE CRITICAL REPORTS ON BIRTH CONTROL. ONE IDENTIFIED INSURANCE PLAN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT'S BIRTH CONTROL BENEFIT, WHICH RESULTED IN NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS. ANOTHER HIGHLIGHTED NEW WAYS TO EXPAND NO-COST COVERAGE TO INDIVIDUALS THAT CURRENTLY LACK IT. AND THE THIRD IDENTIFIED THREATS TO THE RIGHT TO BIRTH CONTROL, WHICH PROVED PRESCIENT IN LIGHT OF THE DOBBS DECISION.- ISSUED A GROUNDBREAKING REPORT IN JANUARY 2022 ABOUT THE FORCED STERILIZATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE AND EXISTING LAWS IN 31 STATES PLUS WASHINGTON, D.C., THAT CONTINUE TO ALLOW THIS INHUMANE PRACTICE. - ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATING CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE QUESTIONS THROUGH THE COVERHER HOTLINE AND A RANGE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION MATERIALS.- PRODUCED A REPORT WITH MOTHERING JUSTICE IN MICHIGAN DETAILING HOW INCREASED ACCESS TO DOULAS, MIDWIVES, AND BIRTH WORKERS IS KEY TO IMPROVING MICHIGAN'S BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PREGNANCY-RELATED OUTCOMES.

INCOME SECURITY AND CHILD CARE- THROUGHOUT 2021, ADVOCATED FOR HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN CHILD CARE AND HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, PAID LEAVE, ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCREASED NUTRITION ASSISTANCE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN, BIRTHING JUSTICE, COMPREHENSIVE PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, AND THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT-BRINGING TENS OF MILLIONS OF WOMEN, FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS CLOSER TO A FUTURE WHERE THEIR WORK AND SACRIFICES ARE TRULY VALUED AND REWARDED. (TO BE CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O.)- BOLSTERED PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THES INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING COLLABORATING WITH PUBLIC PRIVATE STRATEGIES TO POLL SMALL BUSINESSES AND UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN CHILD CARE. IN ADDITION, OUR RESEARCH TEAM'S HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY ANALYSIS FROM CENSUS HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY DATA WAS A KEY COMPONENT IN OUR ADVOCACY FOR ROBUST INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE.- ON VALENTINE'S DAY 2022, PLACED A COCOA CARE-A-VAN POP-UP NEAR THE CAPITOL TO OFFER FREE HOT COCOA, TO REEMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD CARE WORKERS, AND TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR CARE ECONOMY INVESTMENTS.- IN NOVEMBER 2021, LAUNCHED THE CHILD CARE FOR EVERY FAMILY NETWORK (CC4EFN/THE NETWORK), A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND GROUP OF PATIENTS, PROVIDERS, AND ADVOCATES DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE UNITED STATES BUILDS A CHILD CARE SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. THE NETWORK CONVENES, SUPPORTS, AND ACTIVATES STAKEHOLDERS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN AND IMPACTED BY CHILD CARE TO BUILD A TRANSFORMED CHILD CARE SYSTEM.- RELAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN, "TAX THE PATRIARCHY," ALONGSIDE THE RELEASE OF OUR NEW REPORT, ADVANCING GENDER AND RACIAL EQUITY BY TAXING WEALTH, AND A TAX CALCULATOR TOOL, WHICH PROVIDES EXAMPLES OF HOW MUCH REVENUE COULD BE RAISED BY CHANGING TAX POLICIES. THIS CAMPAIGN MADE THE CASE THAT TAXING WEALTH IS A GENDER AND RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUE, SHIFTING THE CULTURAL NARRATIVE AND HELPING MOVE THESE IDEAS INTO THE MAINSTREAM.- IN JULY 2021 AND AUGUST 2021, SUBMITTED COMMENTS TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) IN SUPPORT OF STRONGER DISPARATE IMPACT LIABILITY UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT (FHA) AND MORE MEANINGFUL ENFORCEMENT OF HUD'S DUTY UNDER THE FHA TO AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHER FAIR HOUSING. - OUR WORK ON FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR (FFN) CHILD CARE HELPED ENSURE THAT THIS IMPORTANT BUT OVERLOOKED PART OF OUR CHILD CARE SYSTEM WAS RECOGNIZED AND CONSIDERED THROUGHOUT THE POLICY CONVERSATION ABOUT FEDERAL CHILD CARE LEGISLATION. THROUGH OUR NEW REPORT, SUSTAINING FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR CHILD CARE BEYOND THE PANDEMIC: GUIDANCE AND STATE MODELS, OFFERED PROMISING MODELS FOR SUPPORTING FFN CARE. - RELEASED THE MAJOR REPORT, AT THE CROSSROADS: STATE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE POLICIES IN 2021, TO ASSESS THE STATUS OF STATE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE POLICIES-WHERE THE GAPS ARE, WHERE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE, AND WHERE FURTHER PROGRESS IS NEEDED. - RELEASED A NEW REPORT, EMERGENCY RESPONSE: CHANGES IN STATE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE POLICIES DURING THE PANDEMIC, EXAMINING THE NEW FEDERAL-AND IN SOME CASES, STATE-FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE. TOGETHER WITH FEDERAL GUIDANCE, THE REPORT GAVE ADVOCATES TOOLS TO ENCOURAGE STATE ACTION, WHICH MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR STATES TO ADOPT AND REVISE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE POLICIES TO HELP FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS WEATHER THE ONGOING COVID-19 CRISIS.

WOMEN'S LEGAL RIGHTSJUDICIAL NOMINATIONS THAT PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND GENDER JUSTICE- PROVIDED INFORMATION RELATED TO THE NEEDS AND BENEFITS OF A JUDICIARY THAT IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE COUNTRY AND IN PARTICULAR JURISTS WITH DEMONSTRATED RECORDS OF GENDER EQUITY, INTEGRITY, AND FAIR-MINDEDNESS WHO REFLECT THE GENDER, RACIAL/ETHNIC, AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR COUNTRY AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR DECISIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LGBTQI+ PEOPLE, AND OTHER PEOPLE MARGINALIZED IN OUR SOCIETY. (TO BE CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O.)- LED PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOLLOWING THE HISTORIC NOMINATION OF JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN AND PUBLIC DEFENDER TO SERVE ON THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. - ENGAGED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND NARRATIVE WORK TO SHOWCASE THE EXTENSIVE CREDENTIALS OF BLACK WOMEN LAWYERS WHO ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND LEADERSHIP ROLES.