Please contact your Member of Congress and our 2 US Senators Duckworth and Durbin to urge them to VOTE YES on the following FEDERAL bills.
US Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 or click HERE to find your Member of Congress. Senators Duckworth and Durbin contact info HERE
Raise the Wage Act H.R. 603/S. 53 Pending in US House & Senate
This legislation would gradually increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25/hr to $15/hr by 2025, then index the FMW so it rises along with wages overall. This bill will also eliminate unfair exclusions for tipped workers.
Equality Act H.R. 5 Passed the US House, now pending in Senate
The Equality Act would amend existing civil rights law such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Jury Selection and Services Act, and several laws regarding employment with the federal government, to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. The legislation also amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex. In June 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity because they are types of sex discrimination. While this landmark ruling is a crucial step forward in addressing discrimination against LGBTQ people, the Equality Act is still necessary. President Biden issued an executive order directing agencies to appropriately interpret the Bostock ruling to apply not just to employment discrimination, but to other areas of law where sex discrimination is prohibited, including education, housing, and health care. However, a future administration may refuse to interpret the law this way, leaving these protections vulnerable. Congress must codify the Bostock decision by passing the Equality Act to ensure future administrations fully enforce non-discrimination laws.Additionally, there are two areas of civil rights law that do not currently prohibit sex discrimination, and therefore are not covered by Bostock–all federally funded programs and public spaces and services. The Equality Act adds sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity to these sections of the Civil Rights Act. The law covering public spaces and services is also sorely outdated, and the Equality Act updates that law to strengthen protections for everyone. –from HRC
FAMILY Act S. 248 Pending in US Senate
(Rep. Rosa DeLauro/Senator Kirsten Gillibrand) Would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of partial income due to pregnancy, childbirth, serious health conditions of a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, birth or adoption of a child, military caregiving or leave purposes. Covers all-sized companies.
Momnibus (12 bills) Pending in the US House and Senate
(Reps. Lauren Underwood & Alma Adams/Sen. Corey Booker, etc) This is a package of 12 separate bills that address the Black maternal mortality rate and maternal health and healthcare. See Fact Sheet
For the People Act H.R. 1 Passed the US House, now pending in Senate
Would protect and expand access to the ballot, and break down barriers to exercising the right to vote through reforms like automatic voter registration and ending racially discriminatory voter purges. Makes representation in government more fair by ending partisan and racial gerrymandering. Amplifies the voices of ordinary Americans in politics, now overwhelmingly dominated by a wealthy few, by establishing a small donor matching system for federal races. Fights corruption by enacting new ethical standards for elected officials.
End Diaper Need Act S. 304/H.R. 259 Pending in US Senate & House
Senator Tammy Duckworth and Congresswoman Barbara Lee introduced this legislation to address the cost of diapers, which are NOT covered by food assistance programs or WIC. IL NOW has joined NCJW and Operation PUSH in promoting this legislation.
Paycheck Fairness Act H.R. 7 reintroduced Lilly Ledbetter Act. Pending in US House and Senate
Sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Patty Murray addresses wage discrimination on the basis of sex.
The EACH Act H.R. 1201 Pending in US House and Senate
Rep. Barbara Lee and Sen. Tammy Duckworth introduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act of 2021 which would reverse the Hyde Amendment and guarantee abortion coverage in federal health insurance programs. It would also prohibit federal interference with decisions by states or private health insurance companies to offer coverage for abortion care. (Ms.)
Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act VAWA H.R. 1620
Passed the US House, pending in the Senate
ERA S.J Res 1/H.J. Res 17 Passed the House, pending in the Senate
Removes the ERA ratification deadline
Springfield Race Riot Natl. Historic Monument H.R. 1407 US House Bipartisan legislation to make the site of the Springfield’s 1908 Race Riots a national monument.