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Senate and House bipartisan efforts have come together to advance a paid family and medical leave program that would provide a measure of financial security for working families. The paid leave benefit would offer a long-overdue relief to millions of Americans who currently lack access to a safety net when facing unexpected illness, family care needs, or the birth of a new child.
The proposed paid family and medical leave plan would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave for qualifying medical or family circumstances. It would also cover up to 66% of average weekly wages, based on family income, to a cap of $1,000 per week.
The proposed program has support on both sides of the aisle. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently introduced the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act which would fund a paid leave program through small employee and employer payroll contributions, while U.S. Representative Caroline Maloney (D-NY) recently introduced the House version of this bill, the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act.
Supporters of the proposed legislation have pointed to the benefits of having a paid family and medical leave program, including reducing economic insecurity and preventing workers from having to choose between paid leave and employment. Recent surveys have found that nearly 70% of workers support a federally-funded paid leave program.
The proposed legislative efforts have been supported by an array of advocacy groups, including business representatives, labor unions, health care professionals, and other organizations.
While it is yet to be seen if either bill can gain enough support to become law, the unified effort provides some hope that working families will have access to the help and security they need in difficult times.