Kirsten Gillibrand's 'Family Bill of Rights' would give out baby starter packs to new families
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is laser focused on families.
From her campaign color choice to her past family leave proposals, the 2020 presidential contender has made it clear her campaign is all about boosting American women and families. And on Wednesday she took those priorities to the next level, unveiling an economic policy plan she's calling the "Family Bill of Rights."
Gillibrand's plan contains "five fundamental rights, backed up by bold policy proposals," she writes in a Wednesday blog post. "The right to a safe and healthy pregnancy" is paired with Gillibrand's pledge to "address the severe shortage of OB-GYNs in rural areas," she writes. "The right to give birth or adopt a child" comes with an expansion of taxpayer-funded adoption and anti-discrimination rules for adoptive or foster families.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gillibrand goes on to mention a paid family leave plan and universal child health insurance to ensure peoplecan care for sick loved ones and newborn children, and promotes universal pre-K to expand affordable child care. There's also "the right to a safe affordable nursery," which Gillibrand will cover via "baby bundles" containing "diapers, swaddle blankets, and onesies, all in a box with a small mattress that can be repurposed as a nursery bed," the blog post continues.
The paid leave plan is "similar to a bill" Gillibrand has spent the past six years introducing in the Senate, The New York Times notes. That family focus might be why, after the first round of 2020 fundraising, Gillibrand was the only candidate who got more than half of her donations from women.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 23, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - qualifications, tax cuts, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Long summer days in Iceland's highlands
The Week Recommends While many parts of this volcanic island are barren, there is a 'desolate beauty' to be found in every corner
By The Week UK Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published