Blog

This month's #JobsReport drops at the beginning of #BlackHistoryMonth – so we took a close look at how Black women are faring. And it's pretty clear that while Black women have done a lot for the economy, the economy – and policymakers – need to do a lot more for Black women.

"The Biden administration is weighing additional actions to help people access abortions, which may include a public health emergency declaration."

What, exactly, is going on with the economy these days? On one hand, there are headlines about an impending recession and on the other hand the unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in decades. Rents are declining a bit, but still up hugely over the last year. And what about the cost of eggs?!

"A company that makes an abortion pill filed a lawsuit Wednesday morning challenging the constitutionality of a state ban on the medication, one in what is expected to be a wave of cases arguing that the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the pill takes precedence over such restrictive state laws. "

Vice President of Health Justice Sinsi Hernández-Cancio was a guest on Health Care Payment Learning & Action Network's Spotlight on Action podcast to talk about moving the health care system towards one that effectively cares for every single person in this country – with dignity, excellence and respect.

"Each year since 1973, abortion rights activists have gathered on Jan. 22 for “Roe v. Wade Day” to celebrate the Supreme Court decision that granted a constitutional right to abortion. But now, 50 years after the decision, Roe v. Wade Day will be different: Sunday will also mark the first anniversary of Roe since the ruling was overturned."

Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual data on union members in the United States, showing small declines in the rate of union membership over the last year. Our analysis shows that while unions raise wages – especially for women – far too few workers were able to access their benefits in 2022.

"House Republicans addressed abortion Wednesday for the first time in their new role controlling the chamber, passing two pieces of legislation with their razor-thin majority. The votes come after the reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court last summer, which factored heavily into voter behavior in the November midterms, particularly in states where abortion issues were on the ballot."

The most recent #JobsDay data show the strength of the economy in 2022. But the data also show that labor force participation remains below pre-pandemic levels for many groups of women, with Black women and Latinas suffering the largest declines between February 2020 and December 2022 of 1.9 and 1.8 percentage points, respectively.

"The US Food and Drug Administration is allowing certified pharmacies to dispense the abortion medication mifepristone to people who have a prescription. Mifepristone can be used along with another medication, misoprostol, to end a pregnancy. Previously, these pills could be ordered, prescribed and dispensed only by a certified health-care provider."

Vasu Reddy, Senior Policy Counsel for Economic Justice at the National Partnership for Women & Families, recently briefed Open to All Corporate Partners on the National Partnership's latest report, entitled "Partnership in Action: A Guide to Building Gender Equity in the Workplace." The guide serves as an introduction to the policies and benefits companies can implement to help women, especially women of color, return to the workforce.

"A nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Texas sued the department Tuesday over its decision to offer abortions services in certain cases and abortion counseling to veterans, claiming the new rules violate her religious beliefs. "

"Twice as many independent abortion clinics have closed so far in 2022 compared to the year before as facilities shutteredin the wake of the Supreme Court's decision this year to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to an association for independent abortion care providers."

December 8th marks one day that does not merit the large family gatherings, endless servings of pasteles washed down with glasses of coquito, and other winter holiday traditions practiced by many Latine households: Latina Equal Pay Day.

"The fight over medication abortion bills is heating up, as conservatives turn their focus to medication abortion."

Today marks one year since I started my tenure as President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. The year has flown by, as time often does. In many ways, my one-year mark feels like an imperfect moment for reflection ...

A crucial election is upon us. Early voting has begun in dozens of states, and on November 8th the American public will participate in a midterm election where abortion is on the ballot like never before. And despite attempts to pit concerns about the economy against access to abortion, the reality is that abortion is an economic issue. For example, women denied an abortion are significantly more likely to live in poverty years later.

Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives have been lost as a result of anti-transgender violence, hatred, and prejudice.

This week is Transgender Awareness Week, an annual observance bringing attention to issues transgender people face. In honor of Transgender Awareness week, I wanted to highlight triumphs of the community to establish more positive representation of transgender people in an effort to combat anti-trans stigmas and prejudice.

The first major election of the post-Roe era yielded new protections for abortion rights, as voters in three states approved measures to add constitutional protections guaranteeing access to the procedure…California, Michigan and Vermont backed ballot measures that effectively make it impossible for state lawmakers to enact bans.