Women—especially Black, Native American, Latina, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women—are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic as essential workers while also shouldering the brunt of our nation’s inadequate response. Women are taking on the lion’s share of unpaid caregiving, losing jobs at the highest rates, and getting pushed out of the labor force altogether. In order to recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, we must center the needs of women, especially women of color–at work, at school, at home, and in their communities.

State legislators can and must urgently take action to advance broad-based agendas that would remedy discrimination, ensure accountability, and provide key supports for women and girls. This could include: