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Statement

MomsRising Leaders Applaud Momentous Investments in Care Infrastructure, But Call Exclusion of Paid Family/Medical Leave a ‘Deep and Bitter Disappointment that Must be Addressed’

October 28, 2021
Workplace Justice, Paid Family & Medical Leave, Early Care & Education, Federal Budget

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the Build Back Better Reconciliation package President Biden unveiled today:

“America’s moms and families celebrate the  commitment to significant investments toward building the care infrastructure moms, families, businesses and our economy urgently need, including child care, home- and community-based services, living wages for care workers, and an expanded Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. We applaud the historic, unprecedented investment of $400 billion for universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds and affordable child care, and making refundability of the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent for low-income families. That said, the exclusion of paid family/medical leave for now is a deep and bitter disappointment that lawmakers simply must correct immediately. 

“Even with Build Back Better’s welcome investments in early learning and home- and community-based services, the Child Tax Credit, and more, paid family/medical leave is essential. One in four women are pushed back to work within 2 weeks of giving birth or welcoming a new child simply because they have no access to paid family/medical leave. That jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of moms, babies, businesses, and families. In addition, failure to provide paid family/medical leave means too many people face devastating economic or medical consequences if a serious health crisis strikes, or are forced to choose between work and being there for family when a spouse, parent, or other close loved one is seriously ill.  The absence of this policy hurts businesses, families, and our economy. 

“Passing this policy -- especially in ways that include progressive wage replacement, job protection, non-discrimination protections and more—will help address systemic race- and gender-based inequities. 

“America needs a comprehensive paid leave program. Period. And it can be fully paid for by the Billionaires Tax and/or the Corporate Profits Minimum Tax.

“Now, as we celebrate the tremendous gains for moms and families this framework contains -- including  child care, home- and community-based services, the Child Tax Credit, expansion of affordable health care, addressing racial disparities and improving equity through investments in maternal health, and immigration reform -- we resolve to continue fighting for the unfinished business of building a strong, durable care infrastructure that includes comprehensive paid family/medical leave.”

 

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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.