YWCA Week of Action
From August 4 - 8, 2025, YWCAs across the U.S. call upon Congress to defend and preserve federal funding streams critical to YWCA’s child care and early learning, housing, and domestic and sexual violence programs and services.
We’ve outlined 4 of our core advocacy priorities, accompanied by information on related state and federal legislation, to encourage civic engagement and highlight the realities many women and families are facing right now.
1. Addressing Poverty
Poverty in Pennsylvania remains a pressing issue for many and is exacerbated for people of color. With the double burden of gender and racial bias, women of color find it even more difficult to break free from the cycles of poverty as these issues can permeate school systems, workplaces, housing, and even healthcare institutions.
Supporting Legislation (State): PA HB820 - Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit
Summary highlight:
Federal Earned Income Tax Credit is the largest anti-poverty program in the U.S.; PA is behind in implementation
30% refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit
Sustained state economic growth
Saved money in human services spending
2. Preserving the Social Security Net
Preserving the Social Security net means protecting and maintaining the essential government programs that support our most vulnerable populations during times of need. Illness, effects of aging, unemployment, lack of access to quality foods, and financial hardship are among the most common concerns that everyday people face, and it is imperative that we uphold strong, accessible, and adequately funded programs to counteract these problems.
Supporting Legislation (State): PA SR83 - Urging Congress of the United States to adopt H.R. 1876, the “Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act,” H.R. 1877, the “Protecting Americans’ Social Security Data Act,” and S. 770, the “Social Security Expansion Act.”
Summary highlight:
This bill is designed to urge Congress to support other federal bills that promote and protect robust Social Security funding for seniors and resist cuts and office closures for working people.
Supporting Legislation (State): PA HB 749 - In public assistance, providing for distribution of SNAP benefits
Summary highlight:
This bill requires regular evaluation of SNAP benefit distribution schedules every 5 years after the bill’s enactment, which aims to ensure timely support without delays or gaps.
Supporting Legislation (Federal): U.S. S. 770 - Social Security Expansion Act
Summary highlight:
S. 770 aims to expand Social Security benefits for older Americans by increasing benefit levels for all Social Security recipients, implementing reforms to ensure financial sustainability of the program, and, while not explicitly stated, the bill seemingly seeks to implement higher monthly checks with earlier solvency.
3. Improving Childcare
Pennsylvania’s childcare crisis has gotten worse over recent years, with the issue of affordability being at the forefront for many concerned families. In addition to the cost, access is another problem; more and more quality childcare facilities are being forced to reduce their services due to low staff and high turnover.
Supporting Legislation (State): PA SB830 - Childcare Workforce Commission
Summary highlight:
“An Act establishing the Child-Care Workforce Commission; and providing for duties of the Child-Care Workforce Commission, for public portal and Internet website of the Child-Care Workforce Commission and for annual child-care workforce report.”
Supporting Legislation (Federal): Child Care Availability and Affordability Act
Summary highlight:
This is an Act designed to expand the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, raise the Dependent Care Assistance Plan, and engage the employer-provided child care credit in an effort to reduce costs for families and bring the childcare workforce to proper capacity.
4. Addressing IPV, DV, SA, and Assault
From its prevalence, to the fact that it’s a public health crisis, Pennsylvania constantly faces the issues of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and assault. This is the unfortunate reality for many women and girls, especially women and girls of color, across the Keystone State, and it is long past time that there is effective legislation passed and implemented to address these issues.
Supporting Legislation (State): PA HB274 - Expedited Unemployment Benefits for DV Survivors
Summary highlight:
This piece of legislation aims to expedite unemployment compensations for those who are forced to quit their jobs as a result of experiencing domestic violence. Under this bill, claimants are given the option to submit documentation of domestic violence to quickly qualify for unemployment benefits.