This Sunday, Americans across the country will take time to celebrate the contributions of mothers. Recognizing the invaluable role they play both in and out of the home, Senate Democrats have worked throughout the 111th Congress to support mothers and their families.
In just a little over one year, we have helped to stabilize the economy, passed landmark health care legislation, and enacted important education reforms. We renewed and extended children’s health care programs, improved women’s health care, and acted swiftly to make college more affordable for children and their families. Senate Democrats also extended unemployment benefits for those families who need relief the most, cracked down on mortgage fraud to rebuild America’s communities, and passed theFair Pay Act to close wage gaps for women. Senate Democrats continue to focus on creating jobs, reforming Wall Street to protect homes and lifesavings, and restoring fiscal discipline to our country.
Looking forward, Senate Democrats will continue to support hard-working mothers and their families.
American women place a priority on quality, affordable health care and improved public health, reflecting their experiences as patients, mothers, and caregivers. Working women are more likely to be the primary health care decision makers for their families, yet just half of these women have access to health coverage through their employer. [Department of Labor, accessed 5/5/10, Kaiser Family Foundation, 12/09] Senate Democrats are committed to ensuring a healthy future for America’s mothers and their families.
Senate Democrats achieved health reform that ensures access to quality, affordable health care for mothers and their families. After a decades-long battle, Congress passed and the President signed comprehensive health reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (P.L. 111-152). Health reform lowers costs for women and their families, capping what insurance companies may charge and cracking down on arbitrary premium increases. Health reform also expands health care choices for women and their families, prohibiting insurers from denying coverage due to a pre-existing condition, charging more due to health status or gender, and dropping coverage when a beneficiary needs it most. State-based health insurance Exchanges will put women in charge of their families’ health insurance choices, providing quality, affordable options and the insurance security American families deserve. Health reform also ensures coverage of prevention and basic health services, including maternity benefits, requires employers to provide breastfeeding mothers with break time and a place to express milk, requires states to provide pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid with comprehensive tobacco cessation services, and provides funding to states, tribes and territories for maternal, infant, and early childhood home visitation programs to reduce infant and maternal mortality. More information about the benefits of health reform for American women is available hereand here.
Senate Democrats overwhelmingly approved critical legislation to renew and expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).For the past twelve years, CHIP has played a crucial role in reducing the rate of uninsured children from lower-income families. The program was set to expire in March 2009. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support for similar legislation passed by the Senate and House in the 110th Congress, President Bush twice vetoed bills to expand the program. After two years of hard work by Senate Democrats to improve and expand health care for children, the 111th Congress passed and the President signed the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) of 2009 (P.L. 111-3),abipartisan bill that authorized $32.8 billion in new funding for CHIP to provide quality health care coverage for almost 11 million children through Fiscal Year 2013. The law allows 6.7 million children to continue to receive health care coverage and extends coverage to 4.1 million uninsured children. This legislation also provides a new option to states to remove the five-year waiting period for legal immigrant children and pregnant women, providing those who qualify with immediate access to Medicaid and CHIP. More information about CHIPRA is available hereand here.
Senate Democrats strongly supported legislation to protect our children and the public from the harmful effects of tobacco use.Tobacco use in the United States is harming our citizens, adding billions of dollars to our health care costs, and reducing our economic productivity. Nearly 90 percent of smokers begin as children and are addicted by the time they become adults. Sadly, the pattern of tobacco use by children mirrors that of adults, with 20 percent of high school students classified as current smokers, or 3.5 million children. [2007 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey] The tobacco industry refers to our children as “replacement smokers,” and each day, more than 3,500 children try smoking for the first time, and more than 1,000 children become regular, daily smokers. [Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 1/26/10] Due to the commitment of Senate Democrats and more than ten years of hard work, legislation granting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and sale of tobacco was signed into law by the President on June 22, 2009 (P.L. 111-31). This new law, supported by more than 1,000 public health, faith, and other organizations across the country, gives the FDA the legal authority necessary to reduce youth smoking, prevent the sale of tobacco to minors, help current smokers quit, reduce the toxicity of tobacco products, and stop the tobacco industry from deceiving the public with their misleading claims about the dangers of using tobacco products. More information about the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act is available hereand here.
Senate Democrats fought for economic recovery that maintains health services.Congress enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) (P.L .111-5) to help our nation recover from the recession and make long-term investments to strengthen our economy, providing crucial funding to states facing budget shortfalls. Specific investments in health programs include:
More information about health investments in the Recovery Act is available here.
Congressional Democrats recognize that a world-class education is critical for individual success and the success of our nation, and are committed to ensuring every American has access to quality education at all levels. America’s mothers are also focused on ensuring that their families have quality, affordable educational opportunities. Because children’s performance in many subject areas often correlates with the level of their mother’s education, it is critical that federal policies support mothers who seek to continue their education, and ensure that children have everything they need to succeed academically. [National Center for Education Statistics, 2/00]
Senate Democrats fought for increased student loans and other student support. Signed into law on March 30, 2010, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act(P.L. 111-152) embraces President Obama’s and Senate Democrats’commitment to make college accessible by transforming our student loan programs, helping our country to once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. The new law:
More information about the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act is available here.
Senate Democrats fought for education investments critical to economic recovery and future economic strength. In February 2009, Congressional Democrats passed, and the President signed, the Recovery Act (P.L. 111-5) to help our nation recover from recession and make long-term investments to strengthen our economy in the future. Through the Recovery Act, Democrats secured funding to create jobs, maintain critical programs, and ensure that children are not shortchanged in the classroom. The law:
In recent years, the significance of women’s economic contributions to their families has grown. Today, women make up half of the workforce and over 70 percent of mothers work outside the home. [Testimony of Heather Bousheybefore the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, 3/11/10]Two-thirds of American families with children depend on women’s wages for a meaningful portion of their overall income. [CAP,4/10]This is especially true because men have been hit particularly hard by job loss over the past several years.
Since the start of the recession in December 2007, out of every 10 jobs lost, 7 of those jobs were held by men. Today, many families depend on women as the breadwinner or sole provider due to the high rate of unemployment. In 2008, 40 percent of mothers were their family’s breadwinner, up from 27.7 percent in 1967. [HeatherBoushey, 3/11/10]For all women, this has meant more pressure to earn wages to support their families during these tough economic times.
Senate Democrats are on the side of working mothers and recognize the important contributions of all women to the American workforce.Discrimination in the workforce harms not only our families, but also our economy. That is why the Democratic-led Senate passed, and the President signed into law, (P.L. 111-2) the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which restored the ability of workers to effectively seek legal redress for pay discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, or disability. The efforts by Senate Democrats and President Obama ended a nearly two-year battle to overturn a Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult for victims of pay discrimination to seek redress and receive justice.
In April, while recognizing the continuing and unfortunate gender wage gap symbolized by Equal Pay Day, many members of the Democratic Caucus expressed their strong support for passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, S. 182. The legislation would update the 1963 Equal Pay Act to promote equal pay for equal work and bar retaliation against workers who disclose their wages. Provisions in the bill would create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law, provide negotiation skills training for women, and strengthen federal outreach and enforcement efforts. Working mothers can be assured that Senate Democrats are committed to making sure that all Americans receive equal pay for equal work.
Mothers who have lost a job through no fault of their own depend on unemployment benefits to feed their families and maintain basic services while looking for a job.The possibility of the unemployment benefits expiring, due to the political posturing of Republicans, is unacceptable to Senate Democrats. That is why Senate Democrats supported the American Workers, State and Business Relief Actto extend unemployment benefits and COBRA tax credits for the remainder of 2010. The legislation passed the Senate in March by a vote of 62 to 36. [Roll Call Vote, 48] This year-long extension would provide certainty and stability to mothers who rely on these benefits to sustain their families as they face the practical realities of unemployment. We are currently reconciling this bill with similar legislation approved by the House, and anticipate that we will have a final version to the President for his signature by the end of this month.
Millions of families have been touched by job loss.Although men have suffered from a high percentage of job loss, currently8.2 percent of American women are unemployed. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5/7/10]Over the past year, Senate Democrats have repeatedly supported extensions of unemployment insurance for out-of-work Americans. These benefits serve as a lifeline to working mothers struggling to find a job in our weakened economy. Just this year Senate Democrats stood up to irresponsible obstruction by Republicans to pass the Temporary Extension Act of 2010, a 30-day extension of unemployment benefits, COBRA tax credits, and other important measuresnecessary while we complete work on legislation extending these programs through the end of the year. This extension was signed into law (P.L. 111-144) by President Obama in March. [Roll Call Vote 32] In April, Senate Democrats supported the Continuing Extension Act to continue many of the extensions passed in March. This extension was signed into law (P.L. 111-157) by President Obama in April.
After years of predatory lending practices in the mortgage industry, lax oversight and deregulation by the Bush Administration, and excessive risk taking by Wall Street, our country continues to face a nationwide housing crisis. In 2009, more than 2.8 million homes faced foreclosure, a 21 percent increase from 2008 and a 120 percent increase from 2007. It is estimated that about one in every 45 housing units across the country received a foreclosure notice during the past year. [Realtytrac, 1/14/10] In the 111th Congress,SenateDemocrats have passed critical legislation to rebuild America’s communities, restore the American dream of homeownership, and provide housing assistance to Americans in need.
Home sales are rising.In March, new home sales increased nearly 27 percent from February. [HUD, 4/23/10]Last year Senate Democrats passed the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act to improve access to affordable home loans and increase the availability of credit. President Obama signed this legislation into law on November 6, 2009 (P.L. 111-92). The new law extended through April 30, 2010 the tax credit for first-time homebuyers (up to $8,000 or up to 10 percent of the purchase price of the residence) and expanded the credit to existing homeowners that purchase a new home (up to $6,500) through April 30, 2010, allowing 60 days to close, provided that the homes are under a binding contract by that date.
Women, particularly women of color, were more likely to receive subprime mortgages and suffer from the housing collapse.As families have lost their homes to foreclosure, the threat of homelessness has forced families to move in with relatives or friends, uprooting their lives and leading to instability. In 2009, Senate Democrats passed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Actto prevent unnecessary foreclosures, protect tenants and combat mortgage scams. President Obama signed this legislation into law on May 20, 2009 (P.L. 111-22). The new law strengthensthe HOPE for Homeowners program by offering new incentives for lenders to participate and reducing fees for homeowners and lenders. The law also provides funding for housing counseling and additional fair housing employees, as well as resources to increase awareness of foreclosure scams, especially in non-English speaking communities.
Senate Democrats also championed passage of theFraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 to enhance, strengthen, and rebuild the government’s ability to investigate and prosecute the increasing instances of mortgage and corporate fraud. President Obama signed this legislation into law on May 20, 2009 (P.L. 111-21).
Further, Senate Democrats passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010toprovide additional funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. President Obama signed this legislation into law on December 16, 2009 (P.L. 111-117). The bill provided funding for Americans in need of affordable housing, community development, and housing counseling assistance, and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation.
Declining incomes, fewer job opportunities, and rising costs have put a huge strain on many mothers and their families. That's why the Recovery Act (P.L. 111-5)provides tax cuts to help middle-class families get ahead so they can reap the benefits of their hard work.
Making Work Pay Tax Credit. The Recovery Act cut taxes for more than 95 percent of working families in the United States. For 2009 and 2010, the Act provided a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for working individuals and $800 for working families. This tax credit is calculated at a rate of 6.2 percent of earned income, and phases out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples filing jointly). Taxpayers receive the benefit through a reduction in the amount of income tax withheld from their paychecks, or by claiming the credit on their tax returns.
Refundable Child Tax Credit. The Recovery Act made the refundable child tax credit available to more families in 2009 and 2010. For 2008, the child tax credit was refundable to the extent of 15 percent of the taxpayer’s earned income in excess of $8,500. The Act reduced the threshold for 2009 and 2010 to $3,000.
Earned Income Tax Credit. The Recovery Act also increased the earned income tax credit for working families with three or more children and provided additional marriage penalty relief. The Act increased the earned income tax credit from 40 percent to 45 percent of a family’s first $12,570 of earned income for families with three or more children and increased the beginning point of the phase-out range for all married couples filing a joint return (regardless of the number of children).