NCJW Applauds Historic Gains for Women in the 116th Congress, Pledges Cooperation, and Continues to Fight for Democracy

“NCJW looks forward to working with the 116th Congress. This election cycle saw record numbers of women and minorities running for office, and the result is a young, diverse House of Representatives. The incredible turnout across the country was heartening, but the difficulties reported in many states must be corrected.

“NCJW looks forward to furthering our agenda of improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. We will continue to protect the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid (including unfettered access to contraception). We will work to uphold the separation of religion and state, particularly as it applies to non-discrimination law and policy and when public funds are involved. And we will continue to defend and advance every woman’s right to access abortion.

“At the top of our agenda is keeping families together and out of detention, funding human needs programs, and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. We also will continue to work for a fair and independent judiciary by supporting fair, diverse, and independent nominees for the federal bench along with a return to a more deliberative and transparent judicial selection and confirmation process.

“The public demands Congress work to serve its needs, avoid pettiness and polarization, and produce results. We will gladly join in such efforts.”