SR0342 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0342 LRB102 18762 MST 27415 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Whereas, the Covid-19 virus has wreaked havoc across Illinois, and decisions made in response to this crisis have unduly jeopardized the employment status of thousands, left our State’s children unable to attend school, and decimated our local economies, causing untold negative impacts in the lives of all residents, including women; and

WHEREAS, 35 million mothers are part of the United States' workforce; and

WHEREAS, 58% of high risk occupations are comprised of women; these occupations include teachers, nurses, and doctors; and

WHEREAS, In the beginning of 2020, before the pandemic struck, women constituted 50.04% of the workforce in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Women in Illinois own 417,000 firms and companies; and

WHEREAS, Women bear a disproportionate burden of household and childcare tasks; mothers are more likely than fathers to spend an extra 20 hours per week on housework and child care during the Covid-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Unemployment for women during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic reached 15.8%; and

WHEREAS, As a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, 23% of women with children under the age of 10 are considering leaving the workforce, and 18% of women with children of all ages are considering leaving the workforce; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the General Assembly and the Governor to invest the money received through the American Rescue Plan Act to encourage women to return to the work force and to help stimulate the growth of women in the workforce, and particularly, we urge the Child Care Funds be used to help fund child care and make it easily accessible for working mothers.