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Statement

MomsRising Leader Calls New York Paid Family Leave a 'Milestone'

April 1, 2016
Paid Family & Medical Leave

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

STATEMENT OF Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, On the New York State Paid Family Leave Bill
"The New York State's new paid family leave bill will be a milestone for New York moms, dads and their families. When it's enacted, New York will be the fourth state to ensure its citizens have this important but basic workplace protection.
 
"Right now, too many parents have to make the impossible choice between a paycheck and the time off they need when a child is born or a family member is critically ill. That should never happen.
 
"Paid family leave is a win-win-win. It's good for families, business, and our economy. Studies show that paid leave improves employee retention and lowers turnover costs, increased productivity, and improves employee loyalty and morale. It also helps smaller businesses compete with larger ones and increases our nation's competitiveness in the global economy. It also lowers the need for government support programs, saving taxpayer dollars and lifting families.
 
"New York's state senators and Governor Cuomo understand all the benefits of paid leave, including the public health benefits, which include healthier children who grow up into healthier adults.
 
"MomsRising is proud to have been part of the broad coalition that helped ensure passage and enactment of paid family leave in New York. Our New York members strongly supported this effort, including sending in thousands of messages urging their legislators to vote for this bill, sharing hundreds of personal stories and more.
 
"While this is an important victory for New York businesses, moms and their families, MomsRising will continue to press for federal paid family leave legislation, because your ability to take time from work to care for a new baby or a critically ill family member without sacrificing pay should not be dependent on where you live.
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.