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Statement

STATEMENT OF Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and Executive Director, MomsRising, On Passage of the University Paid Leave Act

December 20, 2016
Paid Family & Medical Leave

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

National Moms Group Applauds DC Council’s Passage of Universal Paid Leave Act
“Today, the DC Council voted to pass the nation’s most progressive paid family and medical leave insurance bill. Working families across the District are celebrating the fact that when this legislation is implemented, nonprofit and private-sector workers in DC will be able to use paid family and medical leave to care for a new child, treat a serious illness, or care for a sick relative. 
 
“For too long, too many working families in DC  have been forced to choose between their families’ health and a paycheck at the moment they need it most. The Universal Paid Leave Act eliminates that false choice by creating a path for paid coverage of 8 weeks of parental leave, 2 weeks of personal medical leave, and 6 weeks of family caregiving leave.
 
“Since the bill’s introduction in 2015, MomsRising members across DC have come together to make their voices heard by lobbying at the Council with strollers and babies in tow, hosting ‘Paid Leave Playdates,’ in their communities, sending hundreds of emails and letters urging Councilmembers’ support, and sharing their stories through official testimony and media interviews.
 
“Study after study shows that advancing this policy is not only the right thing to do for new parents and working families; it’s also the economically smart thing to do for businesses, taxpayers, and the economy. That’s why every other industrialized country has this crucial policy already in place. We’re thrilled that our Nation’s Capital is leading the way with this strong legislation.
 
“However, even with strong paid family leave bills being introduced in cities and states across the country, our nation still needs a comprehensive approach to paid family and medical leave insurance. You shouldn’t have to win the ‘location lottery’ or the ‘boss lottery’ to have access to a critical workplace protection that is available to workers in every other industrialized nation.”
 

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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.