It's the new year...

And it is already a doozy. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the challenging space we are all in. While we continue our work and move forward in our push for gender equity, it is equally important to say out loud that we are witnessing and experiencing very difficult things. It is easy to say "Just move on with your day" or "There's nothing I can do" or to get lost in the overwhelming feelings.

You are not alone.

While everyone's path is different, I want to offer a few ideas for ways to think about what is going on - I hope some comfort is provided if for no other reason that to know you are not alone.

This is not the first time in history that civil rights, basic freedoms, and democracy are being attacked. History repeats itself so long as we allow it. And for many, these feelings of hopelessness, fear, threat, and being used as targets and scapegoats are not new. People of color, non-white immigrants and forced migrants, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as others , have long been the focus of harmful ideologies and practices. While the work of protecting and advancing civil rights is challenging, we can also honor that for many, these experiences are not new.

Glennon Doyle (thank you, Grace) has a wonderful analogy regarding activism work. Think of advocacy and activism as boats in the water, and we are the people on the shore. Each boat represents an "issue”. Instead of trying to get in multiple boats, or standing on the edge panicking about which boat to get in, she encourages people to "just pick a f***ing boat". Our role is to support the issue, rather than starting a new boat as it is rare that there isn't already a boat for any issue you want to address. Rather than recreating the wheel or duplicating efforts, join an existing boat! Struggling to find one? Don't hesitate to reach out to us. We will help.

We are all in this together, and if we support and uplift each other, together we will make a difference. Not because we can, but because we must.

In solidarity,

Blake

What are we watching?

Reproductive Healthcare Updates:

On Wednesday, January 14th, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing to discuss medical abortions. While these hearings can be largely performative in nature, what this hearing showcased was the dangerous continuation of spreading misinformation about Mifepristone (one of the medications used in medical abortions). While we cannot directly influence these hearings, or what others do and say, we can educate ourselves and those around us to combat this misinformation. Study after study shows that Mifepristone is safe when used as directed. For more detailed stats, click HERE to see the statement from the Reproductive Healthcare Center. We have to be a part of countering the rampant misinformation being spread about many issues, not just reproductive healthcare.

Immigration:

The Department of Homeland Security is cleared to rework its federal immigration-status database, the decades-old SAVE system, for mass voter "verification" under a settlement with Florida, Ohio, Iowa, and Indiana. Created initially to confirm eligibility for public benefits, the system will now perform automated checks of U.S. citizenship, allowing all state DMVs to submit large batches of driver's license records for review. 

This dangerous overhaul opens the door to wrongful voter purges, bulk data-sharing, and the potential misuse of personal information for immigration enforcement. These changes could remain in place for at least two decades, creating new barriers for communities that already face obstacles to the ballot box, including Black and Brown voters, naturalized citizens, and women who have changed their names.

To learn more, click HERE.

Healthcare Updates:

From the Kaiser Family Foundation: "On December 18, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued two proposed rules that would further limit youth access to gender affirming care. One rule would change the hospital Conditions of Participation (CoPs) which would prohibit most Medicare and Medicaid enrolled hospitals from providing specified gender affirming medical care for youth (the proposed CoPs rule). The second proposed rule would prohibit federal Medicaid or CHIP funds from covering this care for youth (the proposed Medicaid rule). Despite gender affirming care being considered a best practice model of care and consisting of interventions recommended by major medical associations, if finalized and implemented, the proposed rules would have a sweeping impact, albeit for a small number of young people, significantly limiting their access to these services."

To learn more, click HERE.  

Time and time again, we have seen the benefit of proactive healthcare on long term outcomes. These services don't only benefit the individual, they benefit the healthcare system at large. Early intervention can decrease the level of services needed - and from an economic lens, those who are receiving support through public insurance - save an already over-extended system money. Unfortunately, the new Medicaid eligibility restrictions may lead millions of people to lose coverage and then miss potentially lifesaving cancer screenings like colonoscopies or mammograms. A new analysis estimates that Americans may miss more than a million cancer screenings for colorectal, breast, or lung cancer over the two years after the new policy takes effect.

To learn more, click HERE.

Bills we are watching:

*NEW*

Small Necessities Leave Act (State) This bill would create 24 hours of paid time off in a 1 year period for employees that do not currently have access to paid leave. More information below, link to co-sponsorship memo HERE.

Vote16PA has a co-sponsorship memo! More details below, link HERE.

*PREVIOUS*

Freedom Of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act (HB670) (State)- This bill would prohibit intimidation, obstruction, or violence in front of clinics.

Removing the Waiting Period and Counselling requirements for abortion services (HB2005) (State)- This Bill would remove the 24 hour waiting period and mandated counselling requirements prior to access an abortion.

HB 1315: Reforming Name Change Procedures/SB 521: Removing Publication Requirements for Name Changes (State)- This bill would remove antiquated requirements to publish the former and updated name.

SB 50: Protecting Insurance Coverage for Individuals with Pre-Existing Conditions (State)- This bill would protect Pennsylvanians if the Affordable Care Act gets repealed or deregulated.

Paid Family Leave / Family Care Act (State) - The House bill (HB200) is waiting for a vote on the floor and the Senate (SB906) bill has just been introduced and referred to the Labor and Industry Committee. For more information on paid family leave, click HERE.

Court Cases we are watching:

South Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. (federal) The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the above cases regarding state laws that ban transgender students from participating in sports that align with their gender identity. While in any case, oral arguments are not a determination on how the court will rule, based on questions and comments there is concern that the ruling will not be in favor of gender rights. If the court rules against them, states will continue to be allowed to ban transgender students from participation in sports in a way that aligns with their gender identity. More information on these cases HERE.

South Side Area School District v. Office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (state) This case is about gender equity through the potential protections based on gender identity. For more information, click HERE.

Allegheny v PA DHS (State)- This court case challenges the ban on abortion services being funded by Medicaid in the PA Commonwealth. While a ruling was set for June, oral arguments were held on November 5th. We are awaiting the ruling in this case, which could come at any time. This case could have a profound impact on access to abortion for patients on Medicaid.

Louisiana v. Callais (Federal) This case could potentially invalidate part of the Voting Rights Act, specifically regarding racially based representation. For more information, click HERE.

What are we working on?

Small Necessities Leave Act

Tuesday, January 20th, Blake testified in front of the minority Senate Policy Committee on the potential impact of the Small Necessities Leave Act to women and to the families of individuals with disabilities.

This bill would create 24 hours of paid time off in a one year period for short term leave for things such as medical appointments for an aging parent or family member with a disability, or to attend a child's school meeting whether for conferences or special education. This bill, paired with paid family leave, addresses significant challenges that women face as the predominant caretakers for their families.

A cosponsorship memo is a brief writeup in which the legislator who is introducing the bill explains the "why" and what the bill will accomplish. Other legislators can "sign on" in a show of support. Typically, the more cosponsors, the more likely the bill we get voted on. The Small Necessities Leave Act cosponsorship memo has been introduced in the PA Senate. We will continue tracking the bill and advocating for changes within the bill language that will benefit women and all families.

To see Blake's testimony, click HERE (timestamp 36:25 for when she speaks).

Vote16PA



The Vote16PA work continues! This initiative at The Fund is a program for high school and college age students in which the goal is to pass legislation that would allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote in school board elections. We just hit our one year mark for this program!

This past month A LOT happened! In addition to continuing to collect research, network with other nonpartisan civic engagement and voting rights organizations, we had two BIG wins! First, Vote16USA has made us the PA Chapter of the Vote16 movement! When anyone goes to their website and clicks on Pennsylvania, they are directed to a paragraph about the state and a link that says "Learn More" - this link is a direct link to our Vote16PA page!

Second, Representatives Pielli (Chester County) and Inglis (Alleghany County) have introduced a co-sponsorship memo (the first step in introducing a bill) that OUR students co-wrote! The representatives have been actively working with our students throughout the process, including meetings every few weeks to discuss strategy. While dates are not concrete yet, we are looking forward to the potential for visits to Harrisburg this spring! More to come on this exciting work.

Students met with Rep Pielli on January 12th to discuss introduction of the Vote16PA bill.

Paid Family Leave

We are still working on paid family leave for PA! While EVERYONE can benefit from paid leave, we know this is a critical women's issue that helps level the playing field. Paid family leave can reduce the gender wage gap and results in increasing the number of women in leadership positions.

What can YOU do?

🡆 On Monday, January 20, Congressional Appropriators released the text of a final fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending bill for Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) programs. (This is a continuation of the lack of budget that led to the shutdown at the end of last year - for THUD, a CR (continuing resolution) was passed, that CR is about to expire). The bill provides an approximately $7.3 billion increase over the previous fiscal year, for a total of $77.3 billion for HUD programs. Rental and homelessness assistance programs received funding increases, including key CoC support. The Continuum of Care (CoC) program is the largest federal program to provide funding and resources to communities to address homelessness. 

What can you do? Call and email your members of Congress using this FORM provided by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. The text has been drafted and is ready to send; you can add your own message as well. If you are so moved, you can also send emails through your own personal email, or go to your congressperson's website and fill out a contact form with this information. Multiple contact points is a good way to get your message across.

🡆 Follow the Vote16PA Instagram page! We are trying to push our message out further, and as always, your help by doing something as simple as following the page and liking, commenting, and sharing posts is an easy way to support our mission! Click HERE to check out the page!

🡆 Want to learn how to work with your elected officials and get more involved in making sure that the bills that are passed into law reflect your values? Learn more about or sign up for our advocacy group HERE!

🡆 Curious about bringing people together to learn about elections, how government works, and how to take action on the issues that matter most? Host a gathering designed just for you and your community! Whether it’s a cozy conversation in your living room, a workplace session for colleagues, or something completely unique, we’ll tailor the experience to fit your group and spark meaningful engagement. These gatherings are nonpartisan (as we always are!) and are a great way to learn more in community. Click HERE to contact our Director of Advocacy and Policy about how to support or host a gathering.

🡆 Talk to your state senator about signing on as a cosponsor of the Small Necessities Leave Act! You can simply call or email them, share the co-sponsorship memo and your reasons for supporting it, and ask them to sign on! This is a great way to engage your elected officials. This memo is in the PA Senate - make sure you contact the right person. To find out who your state senator (or representative) is, click HERE.

🡆 Speaking of seeing cosponsorship - next up is asking your state representative to sign onto the Vote16 memo! If you are speaking with them, you can mention that this work originated from The Fund, and share Blake's contact information for any questions or thoughts they may have. The above process for the Small Necessities Leave Act works for this bill as well - just note that this bill is currently in the PA House, not the PA Senate.

🡆 Want to learn more or have questions? Our Director of Advocacy and Policy, Blake Emmanuel, is here to help you! Email her at bemmanuel@thefundcc.org or reply to this newsletter.

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