Duckworth Celebrates Mother’s Day by Highlighting Need for Family-Friendly Policies

Duckworth Celebrates Mother's Day by Highlighting Need for Family-Friendly Policies

[OAK PARK, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today convened local leaders, health care experts, community activists and moms to discuss the challenges moms and families are facing under the Trump Administration and hear directly from parents about the policy solutions they want to see at the local, state and federal level to better support families. Duckworth moderated a panel discussion on the impacts and importance of motherhood with Dr. Amanda Adeleye, Medical Director of CCRM Fertility's Chicago-area center, Jenny LeFlore, Digital Creator behind Mama Fresh and Sherita Hamlin, Chicago Parent Leader of Community Organizing and Family Issues, followed by a listening session with dozens of local moms and community members on the policies they want to be implemented to benefits moms and extreme impacts of the Trump Administration on families. Duckworth, in partnership with the Collaboration for Early Childhood, discussed the challenges mothers in America face while trying to provide for their families and answered questions on how community leaders can work together to improve the quality of life for families. Photos of today's listening session are available on the Senator's website.

"The simple act of parenting a child is challenging enough on its own, but our country-especially under the Trump Administration-has made being a parent, particularly a mom, incredibly difficult," Duckworth said. "We don't have support for child care, paid family leave or expanding access to IVF like Trump promised-instead we have skyrocketing costs on groceries, gas and baby gear, widespread cuts to Medicaid, ACA subsidies and SNAP benefits, and federal agents terrorizing our communities-even our daycares-and ripping families apart. It doesn't have to be this way. We are better and stronger as a nation when we support moms and families."

Following the listening session, Duckworth continued her celebration of moms at the at the Greater Rock Missionary Baptist Church's (G.R.M.B.C.) "Give Mother's Their Flowers" Brunch Service in Chicago. She honored the mothers in attendance and shared more about how her journey with motherhood has guided her work in the U.S. Senate. Afterward, Duckworth attended a Mother's Day Tea at the Primo Center for Women and Children. Primo Center is Chicago's largest provider of shelter and services for homeless families, operating 370 shelter beds and 91 permanent supportive housing units, serving hundreds of families annually across Englewood, Austin, Hermosa and Auburn Gresham. Photos from the Greater Rock Missionary Baptist Church visit can be found on the Senator's website.

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