The Womxn Project was honored to work with Common Cause RI and other partners to push for introduction of the Safe and Healthy Voting in 2020 Act. We were disappointed the bill was not introduced, but we are happy to see that many of the concepts in that legislation have been incorporated into other policies, which may be considered as early as TODAY, July 16th.
TAKE ACTION: Find your legislator HERE and then make two calls (one to your House member and one to your state senator) and/or send two emails. This is serious! If we lose the ability to vote safely, then we have no voice in a system that impacts our health, our rights and our day to day lives!
Sample Message/Email: I am writing to urge your support of H 7200 Sub-A, which creates a process for in-person early voting by improving the current emergency mail ballot process and H 8102 Sub-A, which makes it easier to vote using a regular mail ballot by requiring the Secretary of State to send applications to all eligible voters, providing drop boxes around the state, and waiving onerous requirements that create obstacles to voting. I enthusiastically support and urge passage of both of these bills. Separately they do not do enough to ensure eligible voters have options to safely cast their ballot during the pandemic. We must act now to ensure we can all can vote safely!
We can’t sit back and wait to see if our lawmakers do the right thing when it comes to the elections this fall. There is just too much at stake. Please, take action today! Voters for the September primary should be treated the same as they were for the June primary and as they will be for the November general election.
We need to make sure we get a say in who shapes the laws of our state – policies like the Rhode Island Parentage Act, the push for increased benefits for families who use RI Works, and the bill to ensure affordable access to doula care to improve maternal health outcomes and address the maternal mortality crisis among Black women!
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DID YOU SEE OUR CALL TO ACTION ON RI WORKS?
We need to make sure our state budget includes financial assistance for the 4,000 families who use this benefit. Help urge the Governor, House Speaker and Senate President to increase the monthly RI Works benefit and increase the yearly clothing allowance. Tell them that while so many people are struggling in this global crisis, we need to do more to support the people in our communities!
The maternal mortality crisis facing Black mamas is a racial justice issue.
It is one where we can make a difference now! H 7587 requires that Medicaid and private insurance cover services from doulas. It has been shown that access to support from a trained birth worker helps to reduce complications and improve health outcomes. It is an important concrete step we can take this year! Contact your legislators and tell them you want to see H7587 voted on and passed this year.