WASHINGTON - The Co-Chairs of the Caucus on Black Women and Girls - U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) - and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) reintroduced the bipartisan Protect Black Women and Girls Act. The bill would establish a task force to examine the socioeconomic conditions and experiences of Black women and girls.
"Black women and girls deserve every opportunity to thrive but are too often held back by years of systemic racism and sexism. We must do more than simply acknowledge these disparities and instead put forth holistic solutions," said Rep. Kelly. "The Protect Black Women and Girls Act establishes a task force to examine every part of life, from education to healthcare to economic opportunities. With this bill, we are delivering coordinated policy efforts to dismantle barriers facing Black women and girls and ensure they can lead happy, healthy lives."
"For too long, Black women and girls of every walk of life have been denied access to deserved opportunities for no reasons beyond their sex and race. Unfairness and inequality will never have a place in our nation, and we have a moral responsibility to take meaningful action to root them out in every space they arise," said Rep. Clarke. "The Protect Black Women and Girls Act represents a significant step toward ridding our nation of a sin that has persisted within it for centuries, and I am proud to work alongside my fellow co-chairs to see it enacted."
"I'm proud to stand with my fellow co-chairs Rep. Kelly and Rep. Clarke in introducing this crucial piece of bipartisan legislation," said Rep. Watson Coleman. "The Protecting Black Women and Girls Act is an important step toward addressing the root causes of the disproportionate challenges Black women and girls face. We must all work together to do more for this nation's Black women and girls to ensure they have equal opportunity to thrive."
"This legislation is about using the full force of federal policy to confront disparities that have gone unaddressed for far too long," said Rep. Fitzpatrick. "By establishing a cross-agency task force, we're working to ensure that federal programs are not only equitable in intent, but effective in practice-targeting systemic barriers in healthcare, education, economic mobility, housing, and civil rights. Our goal is simple: to build a smarter, more accountable federal response that delivers measurable progress for Black women and girls nationwide."
The Protect Black Women and Girls Act is endorsed by In Our Own Voice, The Black Women Health Imperative (BWHI) and Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA).
"At a time when our civil rights are under threat like never before, the Protect Women and Girls Act is the urgent response needed in order to address the disproportionate impact Black women are facing across this administration's multifaceted attacks on the economy, reproductive and public health, education, the environment and more," said Regina Davis Moss, President and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda. "We are thankful to co-chairs Rep. Kelly, Rep. Watson Coleman, Rep. Clarke and the entire Congressional Caucus of Black Women and Girls for their tireless efforts in support of this legislative action. In Our Own Voice is proud to endorse the Protect Black Women and Girls Act, a critical piece of legislation that will help improve outcomes for Black women, girls and gender-expansive people in the U.S."
"The Black Women's Health Imperative stands in full support of the Protect Black Women and Girls Act," said Dr. Ifeoma Udoh, Executive Vice President of Policy, Advocacy and Science at BWHI. "Our work as an organization addresses the programming and policy which impacts the pipeline to healthcare, education and leadership for Black women with our partners and collaborators. This bill presents an opportunity to address these gaps and ensure that we can solve the problems structurally that impact the fully holistic lives of Black women and girls."
"Black Mamas Matter Alliance proudly endorses the Protect Black Women and Girls Act introduced by Congresswoman Robin Kelly. This critical and groundbreaking legislation reflects the core values and heart of our mission we champion - advancing Black Maternal Health and driving equitable change and opportunity for Black women and girls," said Angela D. Aina, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BMMA. "The bill centers and prioritizes the wellbeing of Black women and girls, acknowledges the daily social and structural harms we endure, and calls for restorative justice as a pathway to healing and transformation. By naming and addressing the systemic inequities that impact our lives, this Act is a critical step toward building a future where Black women and girls are seen, protected, valued, and empowered to thrive."
The Protect Black Women and Girls Act would establish an Interagency Task Force to:
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Identify and assess the efficacy of policies and programs at the federal, state and local levels designed to improve outcomes for Black women and girls;
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Make recommendations to improve these policies and programs;
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Cover issues involving Black women and girls in education, economic development, healthcare, justice, civil rights and housing;
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Submit recommendations to Congress, the President, and each state or local government on policies, practices, programs and incentives that should be adopted to improve outcomes;
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Direct the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to conduct a study and collect data on the effects of specified economic, health, criminal justice and social service factors on Black women and girls.
The bill was first introduced in 2020.Read the full text here.