Prosperity and empowerment for working mothers

This op-ed originally appeared in the Washington Times on April 15, 2024.

When I was pregnant with my second child, our family went bankrupt. Our car was repossessed in our driveway, and our future was very uncertain. I remember standing in our yard, thinking about our family, and wondering how we would recover and move forward. Thankfully, with the support of family and friends and a lot of hard work, we were able to eventually rebound and expand our small business into a successful global organization.

I know firsthand the challenges of raising kids and managing a business simultaneously, and while my family found ways to make it work, there are still many hurdles to success for working mothers today. Policymakers and employers must do more to create a culture that values care work just as much as employment outside the home and makes it easier for women to do both — and thrive.

Last week, the America First Policy Institute released our HOPE Agenda, a 20-point policy framework to promote health, opportunity, prosperity and empowerment for women, children and families. While much of the dialogue surrounding “women’s issues” has focused on abortion and reproductive care, America First policies support a woman and a child’s shared right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. For women who value both motherhood and the work that they do, we can and should promote a culture that doesn’t force them to choose.

Read the full op-ed in the Washington Times.