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Statement

Moms Group Calls on Congress to Pass the FAMILY Act Now

February 7, 2017
Paid Family & Medical Leave

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than 1 million mothers and their families
“It’s time – past time – to make paid leave a reality for all workers in this country. Whether it’s to care for a newborn you swear already smiles, a mom who is ill, or a spouse battling cancer, being there for family is what matters. You shouldn’t have to give up your paycheck, or risk losing your job, to do so.
 
“But in our country today, too many people do. Only 14 percent of workers – and only 5 percent of low-wage workers – have access to paid leave through their employers. We need a comprehensive paid leave bill that benefits all workers. That’s why we commend Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for reintroducing the FAMILY (Family and Medical Insurance Leave) Act, and for championing it again this year.
 
“The FAMILY Act would help millions of families across the country by establishing a national insurance program that allows eligible workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Details matter. Moms know this. Dads know this. Caregivers know this – and we need a national paid family and medical leave policy that reflects the many dimensions of our families and lives, is accessible, affordable, inclusive and has a meaningful amount of leave. We need the FAMILY Act.
 
“It would help MomsRising members like MacKenzie Nicholson of Dover, New Hampshire, whose mother was recently hospitalized to have a brain tumor removed. This happened while MacKenzie was more than six months pregnant and trying to save up her vacation and sick time to use as maternity leave. Instead, she was forced to use vacation time to care for her mom, cutting into what would have been her maternity leave. MacKenzie warns that, without paid family and medical leave, many folks in her generation will be forced to leave the workforce or face financial strain while they care for their parents and/or children.
 
“The FAMILY Act is the right solution – a win-win-win. It’s good for families, it’s good for businesses, and it’s good for our national economy. Congress should move quickly to pass it!”
 

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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.