The 2023 Nebraska Legislative Session begins on Wednesday, January 4. We know that some elected officials will work to preserve and advance gender equity while others will reverse our progress. You can bet we’ll be here, working with our allies and advocates for gender equity. The policy issues we care about and work on are interconnected. We’ll continue to support policies that improve economic security for women and girls, create communities where everyone can live free from gender-based violence and protect access to reproductive health care, including abortion care, for all.
The new session brings about an opportunity to advance and protect gender equity and our momentum from last session grows. Remember when we defeated three extreme anti-abortion bills? Remember when we put two new laws into practice that support survivors of gender-based violence? We did that—together. And we can do it again.
Here are some of the policies that will need your support in 2023:
- Expanding and protecting access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortions. We’ll make no compromises on your right to get the health care you want and need.
- Supporting parents and caregivers with affordable child care, food security and paid leave to care for themselves and their families. We’re also advocating for safe, affordable housing so that women and their families have greater housing stability.
- Extending the duration and coverage of protection orders to remove barriers to safety and comfort for victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and harassment.
- Protecting survivors of violence from debt collectors because no rape or domestic abuse survivor should have medical debt for seeking health care after their victimization.
How will we do it? Together. It will take all of us working collectively to create communities where everyone can thrive. And we will continue this important work—for as long as it takes. Rest now, center your joy and get prepared for the work. Because when we work together, we’re unstoppable.
Let’s get louder and be bolder than ever to create policies that support and advance gender equity. Let’s build a future where everyone can thrive.
Dr. Erin Feichtinger
Policy Director
P.S. View our first Public Policy Power Hour discussion on gender equity and register for the remaining series to get a preview of the session and hear from other advocates and experts.