Contact: Amanda Lang, Director of Marketing and Communication

917-886-0336

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) released the following statement today in response to the Senate vote on the Families First Act. Chief Policy Officer Jody Rabhan issued the following statement:

“The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) applauds the US Senate’s action today, following House passage last week, to respond to families in need during the current Covid-19 health crisis. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, while far from perfect, is a first step to addressing the needs of workers and their families during this uncertain time.

“Among many important provisions, workers will be granted two weeks of emergency paid sick leave and twelve weeks of job-protected emergency paid family and medical leave for employees who work at companies that employ 500 people or less; increased Medicaid funding and guaranteed, no-cost coverage of COVID-19 testing in public and private health insurance; and emergency funding for unemployment insurance and for several nutrition programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These are critical and necessary efforts to ensure individuals and families can stay home while retaining their livelihoods, ultimately reducing pressure on our health care facilities and saving lives.”

“Jewish tradition teaches that each of us is made in the image of the divine — b’tselem Elohim (Genesis 1:26) — meaning every single person’s health is paramount and unassailable. Thirty-three million workers lack access to a single paid sick day. On a regular day, this is shocking. During a public health crisis, it’s outrageous and unsafe. NCJW has long fought for paid family and sick leave, and other key ways to help workers meet work and family demands, and will continue to advocate for them long after this health crisis is over.”

The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.