Debra L. Ness

She has previously worked for the Service Employees International Union and National Abortion Rights Action League.

Ness graduated summa cum laude from Drew University with an undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology.

In 1986, Ness moved to the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) to head up field operations, and in 1989 was promoted to deputy director of the organization.

[2] Under Ness’s leadership, First Lady Michelle Obama said of the National Partnership in 2011, “Thanks to your tremendous efforts, the landscape of this nation has been fundamentally changed for the better: our workplaces are more family friendly, women and girls do have more opportunities, and many discriminatory practices have been completely abolished.”[3] Ness is a recurring contributor to the Huffington Post.

She advocated for paid sick leave policies during the 2009 swine flu pandemic before the House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee and the Senate Health Subcommittee on Children and Families.