Subject: Your Voice. Heard! | Victory in Vermont | Fighting for Justice | More... || ActionSpeak
From: "Debra Ness, National Partnership" <[email-masked]>
To: "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2016 15:47:49 -0600

________________________________
ACTION SPEAK

OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE
Say NO to Obstructionism

In an act of unprecedented obstructionism, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and several  members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are refusing even to consider President Obama's  forthcoming Supreme Court nominee.

It's time to stand up, speak out and fight back! Our nation needs the Supreme Court vacancy filled promptly and fairly. 
Please sign our petition and pledge to speak out until our next Supreme Court justice is confirmed:
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=5vEb3e8D1st9sy1x6zeHxw

Related:
This Wednesday morning, March 2, we'll be rallying on the steps of the Supreme Court to protect abortion access and stand with Whole Woman's Health.

We urge you to "join" us by voting for your favorite rally sign slogan (or sharing one of your own).
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=0qERZ0TAeTmash8Ythm_cw

PAID SICK DAYS
Victory in Vermont!

Last week's vote in the Vermont House of Representatives paved the way for the state to become the fifth in the nation to guarantee workers the right to earn paid sick days. When Gov. Peter Shumlin signs this bill, which he's expected to do in early March, Vermont will join the growing list of jurisdictions across the country that recognize the widespread benefits of this common sense standard. It's past time for Congress to do the same. 
More: http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=CmWy27SB69ZMPF8GfA1JNQ

Urge Congress to support paid sick days by passing the Healthy Families Act: 
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=0z8xyYNL9iNfgNsPZrpkEQ

REPRO HEALTH
Stand with Planned Parenthood

Despite the fact that a grand jury not only cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing but also indicted its accusers, a House committee is still "investigating" Planned Parenthood and plans to hold a hearing next week. This is an exercise in extremism, and it's past time for Congress to get back to the business of governing and abandon its extreme anti-abortion agenda.

Tell Speaker Paul Ryan to disband the special committee today: 
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=lWeWqUBFto2J6yC8s_FydQ

Related:
Politicians have no business interfering in the relationship between a woman and the doctor she trusts. That's why we just released the second edition of Bad Medicine: How a Political Agenda is Undermining Women's Health Care.
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=Gyrx9QPyoSw_-Knv4UG9LA

The map below shows what medically unnecessary abortion restrictions look like in the United States.

PAID LEAVE
Your Voice. Heard!

Earlier this month, to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act, we hand-delivered paid leave petitions on Capitol Hill. Together with the 1,000 Days campaign, we delivered more than 230,000 signatures urging Congress to pass the FAMILY Act -- common sense legislation that would establish a national paid family and medical leave program that covers virtually everyone, no matter where they live or work or what job they hold.
More: http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=WIWI_YEdjUdSIM8SFtQEKQ

Related:
We released new national poll results this month confirming that nearly four out of five voters think it's important for elected officials to update the law to guarantee access to paid family and medical leave.
More: http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=rVWvU7R6EIpAsFeJRelbOA

HEALTH IT
A Mother's Journey

This month, we continued the GetMyHealthData Campaign's "tracer" blog series with Megan's story. The mother of a child with a rare genetic syndrome, Megan blogs about the many obstacles she had to overcome, from high fees to puzzling policies and procedures, in order to get copies of her daughter's medical records, so she can better coordinate her care. 
Read her story: http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=1ywmGqJJJv3_vgY-C5_ysg

FAIR PAY
Fighting for Justice

On January 29, we celebrated the seventh anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. We are so proud to have supported Lilly during her historic fight for justice, and we will not rest until every woman can count on fair pay.

That's why we strongly support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help end wage discrimination in the United States. Itwould close the loopholes in the Equal Pay Act. It would prohibit retaliation against workers for discussing their salaries. It would  train women and girls in  negotiation skills. It would strengthen federal agencies' investigative and enforcement abilities. And it would recognize employers with good pay practices and help small businesses adopt such practices.

Urge Congress to support fair pay by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act :
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=36yMzTxLPwSoycr63Gwrcg

Related:
We are thrilled that the Obama administration announced both a proposal to collect wage data from businesses with 100 or more employees and a summit in May on the "United State of Women."
More: http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=3FNdnaXX_cz8xqKLKtIhXQ

REPRO HEALTH WATCH
Criminalizing Pregnant Workers

Allison Glass, state director of Healthy and Free Tennessee, writes in a recent issue of Repro Health Watch:

"In 2014, Tennessee enacted a law that threatens women with jail time if they give birth to babies who are shown to have been affected by the use of narcotics during pregnancy. As a result, women are being randomly drug tested in the hospital after giving birth, and arrested days after bringing home their babies. Others are being targeted for disclosing a past history of drug use at a prenatal visit. This law has been used to punish women who have used narcotic drugs and given birth to healthy babies, as well as women who never used drugs. A law that was touted to be about encouraging pregnant women and new mothers who have used drugs to seek treatment has instead meant dragging women into the criminal justice system."
More: http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=OZd4EtYk6KeDdT-8yMRRSg

Related:
Want to stay up to date on the latest reproductive health information? Sign up for Repro Health Watch here:
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=ydrntryEYM78FUcYCr9pQA

Media Mentions

Help With Student Loans, Paid Sick Leave for Contractors,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=JvLAozUYJSTGU1KqIvrasQ
Government Executive, February 24, 2016

Why CMS's core quality measurements don't actually measure quality,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=cKa4g2Ya71OdM0WQda_S9Q
The Hill, February 23, 2016

This Is What Paid Leave Looks Like In Every U.S. State,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=t9uRCAOP3SU0AKZ2MRagVQ
Fast Company, February 23, 2016

The Single American Woman,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=4mWoxutAJmfgXBxSVhR2pQ
New York Magazine, February 22, 2016.

Make paid leave law of the land,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=EnupYjdadQgZb1935TkVlA
USA Today, February 19, 2016

Vermont bill on paid sick leave passes Senate,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=NpXTC1NtsE4rhq4Pw0X2dA
Safety + Health Magazine, February 17, 2016

Insurers And Medicare Agree On Measures Tracking Doctors' Quality,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=EUMy1JKyD-YqHGccUh9ESg
Kaiser Health News, February 16, 2016

CMS Releases Core Quality Measures, 
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=TIZP6Z5jm3RZD4oUoB9qzw
MedPage Today, February 16, 2016

CMS and AHIP's quest to tame the wilds of healthcare quality measures, 
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=jo4CJ4L1D8IJUDF7a_IM3A
Modern Healthcare, February 16, 2016

Federal leave act mandates time, not pay; new Missouri legislation would add wages,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=jDciEvIj20QS97hHYkW7PA
St. Louis Public Radio, February 11, 2016

We act as if work is optional for women. It's not.,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=PnelQd8rg-ilqlN0bhmNrg
Washington Post's "In Theory," February 5, 2016

Why Were Reproductive Rights Left Out Of Last Night's Democratic Debate?,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=lJU6TgZkRuK9dvlkF-BLIQ
The Frisky, February 5, 2016

#TheTimeIsNow to Take Action for Paid Family and Medical Leave,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=tHfyFSUAy4ifRJXCf54s0g
MAKERS, February 5, 2016

Why Maternity Leave Doesn't Have to Kill Your Career,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=GXLL3zlzvlMfsHm-V7ur2w
Contently, February 2, 2016

Comments roll in on HELP's health IT bill,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=ug1svzKVdQ5QqdBEsaC1DA
Politico Morning eHealth, February 1, 2016

Stakeholders weigh in on Senate HELP health IT bill,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=ZRBiYAKbw2xfTtewl7q7-g
FierceHealthIT, February 1, 2016

Investigating High C-Section Rates, Researchers To Examine Floor Plans,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=7m3rMTSvwjKagYrbQ7wrFw 
WBUR's "CommonHealth," February 1, 2016

Industry Groups Respond to Patient-Centered EHR Legislation,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=-b74dQHAfOuymrJd1EoFOw
EHR Intelligence, February 1, 2016

Why does South Carolina remain one of 4 states without equal-pay laws?,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=taZs87B9m2X5VFm3s07WlA
McClatchy DC, January 29, 2016

OBAMA AIMS TO CLOSE THE WAGE GAP WITH A NEW PROPOSAL FOR SALARY TRANSPARENCY,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=vOVbFX0o1VuwpRa1PMzfIw
Fast Company, January 29, 2016

Family-Friendly Policies Benefit Everyone-Even Me, 
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=_iWBbJ53o9W0jKLA3e-RvA 
RH Reality Check, January 27, 2016

How We Can Conquer Stress in the Workplace,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=_vK-B_WIn3Od2aP4LsfmxQ
Huffington Post, January 25, 2016

Unplanned C-Sections Have Unexpected Benefits, Study Finds,
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=cmDWUtRz8-fm7X0wvWCs_g
The Bump/Yahoo! Parenting, January 24, 2016

Press Releases

Leading Patient Advocates Commend New HHS Guidance on HIPAA for Encouraging Health Care Providers to Waive Record Request Fees and Support Consumers in Sending Data to Third Parties
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=o7cQXAONhscljkBGSyhO6A
February 25, 2016

State 'Bad Medicine' Laws Proliferate, Undermining Women's Health Care
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=YLYmMQi5tssze2cXkNxxIA
February 24, 2016

Women's Leader Hails Labor Department's Proposed Rule for Offering Promise of Paid Sick Time to Nearly 830,000 More Workers
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=MjrJEIzRd_ZGCD46uTQVyg
February 24, 2016

Vermont Will Soon Be the Fifth State to Guarantee Paid Sick Days
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=VAltWqulBb-3oOzmVGR-mg
February 17, 2016

Consumer Health Leader Says Alignment Among Payers, Announced Today, Offers Promise for Better Care and Better Use of Health Resources
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=GBmJebk2_t-gDKfcp-v0tQ
February 16, 2016

Women's Leader Comments on Passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=Y4TSHFPK7RHkn8XhlobcyQ
February 13, 2016

'The Right Priorities for the Nation's Women and Families,' Women's Leader Praises Obama FY2017 Budget Proposal
 http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=PPNiRf2W4e_eLk4GktiW4A
February 9, 2016

New Poll: As the Nation's Unpaid Leave Law Turns 23, Nearly Four in Five Voters Agree It's Important for Paid Family and Medical Leave to Be Next
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=y7xcyTjoduJxUdm4baym4Q
February 4, 2016

EEOC Action on Pay Data Collection is a 'Bold, Important Step' That Can Help Identify and Stop Wage Discrimination
http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=XjQ5x0Kwkf507YuTfSoMQA
January 29, 2016

Top Tweets

ICYMI: @POTUS has a plan to give #paidsickdays access to 828,000 workers: huff.to/1oHTgIe via @HuffPostPol & @jamieson http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=1dNUFnkclevetgIi9bSt8A

Terrible news: A 5th Circuit ruling allows Louisiana to begin enforcing a Texas-style #antichoice law: theadvocate.com/news/14981272-172/5th-circuit-ruling ... #StopTheSham http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=tWF-mxLNNi4meToMqP3cHw

Don't be fooled: Laws that tell #abortion providers how to do their job are #BadMedicine. npwf.info/1wxm46g pic.twitter.com/G8tuTnArXT http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=HID3b7IYqSlY_6wd5azojg

#Ohio lawmakers are introducing a bill to keep #pregnant women from having to choose btwn their jobs & pregnancies: bit.ly/1TCKGqz http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=hxg5YwysOKk__K4opcDthw

@iamjohnoliver nailed it! Watch the full segment here: youtu.be/DRauXXz6t0Y #StopTheSham #BadMedicine pic.twitter.com/sYJbaOVovt http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=GluRjEY0m-SIJ1Y6PcJr2w http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=0hoZM8lPq7Eid-wLjVSvig

People's lives don't resemble 'Leave It To Beaver,' so why do the nation's policies, like not providing #paidleave? strib.mn/1PKf2kG http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=3XkJlaIhnL6lYk6GztQIZA

BREAKING: #Vermont is on track to become the fifth state with #paidsickdays, following a vote in the House today! 

Let's close that #wagegap between me and you. #FeministValentines

If you really love me, set my #health #data free! #GetMyHealthData #HealthPolicyValentines

The powerful #paidleave4DC stories continue... "Please pass this bill for me, and for all workers." Tweet now: WeTweet.org/DC. http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=0J9IjlGAVbafQnIm2fCUqw

Kudos to the #abortion providers on the #TruthTour: reut.rs/1QqbJPv. It's time to get politics out of the exam room! #FightBackTX http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=Tpg7c54oS3hL97Sz0GuJkQ

Our lack of #paidleave hurts the economic security of not only #workingmoms, but women #caregivers too: theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/ ...  #LeadOnLeave http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=kTfs9-KGXzhbgQu_fBCKwA  

The latest #POTUSbudget proposal would promote basic fairness and living wages: npwf.info/20JoYp4 #fairpay #RaiseTheWage http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=qJC2xVltdrDnsMa-30fiVQ

Yes or no: Do women and men have equal rights under the U.S. Constitution? Take the quiz: bit.ly/Invade4Equality #Invade4Equality http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=nrezw-oK7qK-p-fQFLccuQ

The #FMLA turns 23 today. The law has helped millions of America's families since 1993, but it's past time for the next step: #paidleave!

As we recognize #FMLA23, it's crazy that still just 13% of workers have paid family leave through their employers. We need nat'l #paidleave.

Great news: 12.7M people signed up for #Obamacare during open enrollment! thehill.com/policy/healthcare ...  via @thehill #ACAWorks http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=ookZ798qIth0HUlXukiQCA

Your voice was heard: delivering #paidleave petitions to #FAMILYAct champion @RosaDeLauro. #FMLA23 pic.twitter.com/BehQISfO3b http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=QUOXgQY6tu2MnXsTENVwwQ

Honored to hand deliver thousands of #paidleave petitions with @ThousandDays. @SenGillibrand #FMLA23 pic.twitter.com/WvRI4qu8SQ http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=7wnbbOm1e7jpzb2De_ZlDw

FACT: A baby's relationships are critical to early development. #Paidleave makes a difference: npwf.info/1bykQIN #WellnessWed http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=v4F0F8VXnajFRbbEVDLp5g

Oh look, it's #GroundhogDay and the House attacks #Obamacare yet again. #ACAWorks pic.twitter.com/uggGF0jadR http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=jhb9Q8OKWgQcNl6SC9L93g

The #NewYork State Assembly just passed a bill that moves the state another step closer to #paidleave! wp.me/p5hgNl-1uT7 #MakeNYNext http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=T6YiyhdCeBk3zR8XImYwDQ

Here's to an "early spring" for #paidleave. Sign our petition urging Congress to pass the #FAMILYAct: npwf.info/1KnYJNo #GroundhogDay http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=hlS8XeZeWNuLvoYdZCVueg

Learn the basics at NationalPartnership.org/enroll, then #getcovered at HealthCare.gov before tonight's deadline! pic.twitter.com/mMr03BGiLL http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=A9QpFtaSNyeeGJZp8zMfRg

.@POTUS on the #wagegap: "It's not good for our communities, it's notgood for our families and it's not good for our businesses." #fairpay

Women are paid 79¢ for every $1 paid to men. For #WOC, those numbers are worse: npwf.info/1h8Vk0k. It's simply wrong! #EqualPay http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=2FYsFR9W2Wrz_Ba81eUhpw 

Breaking news: #Pentagon unveils family friendly initiatives, including #paidleave! usat.ly/1SMtE8N via @usatoday & @tvandenbrook http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=9p2Wp0icQLwKlbLd_plE8Q

________________________________

© 2015 National Partnership for Women & Families. All rights reserved.

National Partnership for Women & Families
1875 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 986-2600
Fax: (202) 986-2539
Email: [email-masked]
Web: http://go.nationalpartnership.org/site/R?i=NBsSUCmL1BQfVZheq6Cr9A

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