Statement on the Coronavirus Relief Bill
1,000 Days was pleased to see the coronavirus relief bill signed into law Sunday night, providing critical support to our nation’s families and avoiding a government shutdown.
As the leading nonprofit organization working to ensure women and children in the U.S. and around the world have the healthiest first 1,000 days, we know that families are struggling as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on.
Provisions such as enhanced unemployment benefits, direct cash payments, and augmented SNAP benefits will help families stay afloat and avoid food insecurity during this difficult time.
However, this relief package does not extend the paid leave mandate first established in the March Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Without guaranteed paid sick and family leave, workers who become ill or who cannot work due to childcare needs will be left without options as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Paid leave is a public health imperative now more than ever, and families need guaranteed access to be healthy and thrive.
The 1,000 days between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday set the foundation for all those that follow, and healthy moms and babies are the foundation of a healthy society.
As we look ahead to a new year and a new administration, we remain focused on advocating for the policies, systems and environmental changes that will:
- Strengthen and improve federal nutrition programs for all moms and babies who need them;
- Secure federal paid family and medical leave, enhancing millions of lives;
- Provide all moms and their young children access to quality, comprehensive health care;
- Create the environments for all moms to meet their breastfeeding goals; and
- Invest in the nutrition and well-being of mothers, infants and young children around the world, to curb severe malnutrition and avoid preventable child deaths.
Blythe Thomas
Initiative Director
1,000 Days, an Initiative of FHI Solutions