Building a Stronger California in 2017

by Equal Rights Advocates (ERA) Staff. Originally published here.On April 4 – Equal Pay Day – we rallied with the Stronger California Advocates Network and members of the Legislative Women’s Caucus to launch our 2017 legislative agenda for women’s economic security.

See photos from the day’s events.

See coverage of the event in Capitol Public Radio.The 2017 agenda builds upon critical victories over the past two years, including passage of the strongest equal pay law in the country, repeal of the regressive Maximum Family Grant Rule, passage of the Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights, crucial increases to the minimum wage, increased Paid Family Leave benefits rates, and increased child care funding. However, there is still much work to be done to ensure the economic security of all women and families across the state. And now more than ever, we need strong policy reform to push back on the damage being done in Washington.“We don’t have time to waste when it comes to the economic security of women and families- and California is leading the nation’s charge. When we invest in an economic agenda that puts women first, we build stronger communities and better workplaces. These policies make California a place people are proud to call home. And right now – more than ever – they are necessary to ensure our families’ rights are not threatened by federal actions,” said Noreen Farrell, Executive Director of Equal Rights Advocates and Chair of the Stronger California Advocates Network.The bills and budget priorities on our 2017 legislative agenda would build women’s economic security by promoting fair pay and working conditions, asset building, reproductive choice, affordable child care, and new parent leave.

Read the full 2017 legislative agenda.As we gathered in Sacramento, women from across the state who are affected each day by these policies shared their stories and explained the impact this legislation would have on their lives.

Speakers included Stronger California Advocates Network Chair Noreen Farrell (Equal Rights Advocates), Stronger California Steering Committee members Jessica Bartholow (Western Center on Law and Poverty), Mariko Yoshihara (California Employment Lawyers Association), Jessica Stender (Equal Rights Advocates), and Jenya Cassidy (CA Work & Family Coalition), and advocates Lourdes Martinez (Mujeres Unidas y Activas), Juana Flores (Mujeres Unidas y Activas), Karen Kandamby (California Partnership), and Christina Figueroa (Parent Voices).Legislative Women’s Caucus Chair Cristina Garcia and former Chair Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson also delivered passionate speeches about the need for policies that prioritize protections for women and families.

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