Paid Leave Expert Applauds Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats for Including Paid Family and Medical Leave in the Build Back Better Act

Statement of Vicki Shabo, Senior Fellow for Paid Leave Policy and Strategy and New America’s Better Life Lab:

“Today’s news that the U.S. House of Representatives version of the Build Back Better Act will, in fact, include a comprehensive, national paid family and medical leave program, reflects the fact that America cannot build back better without paid leave. Paid leave responds to the family caregiving and personal health challenges that working people face and that too often hold them back from work, from good health, and from financial security; to the need that businesses, especially small businesses, have to ensure that workers can take the time they need to care for a new child, a loved one or themselves; and to the economy’s need for a productive, inclusive workforce. 

The premature “death” of paid leave last week caused widespread outrage and disbelief – within the halls of Congress, among advocates, businesses and working people. Paid leave advocates and workers unequivocally said “no” and fought with facts and heart to achieve today’s result. This happy news is a tribute to that outrage and to that hard work. Most of all – today’s news is a tribute to the leadership and tenacity of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, longtime House champions Representative Rosa DeLauro, Senators Patty Murray, Ron Wyden and Kirsten Gillibrand, and progressive and moderate legislators in both the House and the Senate who said “no” to leaving paid leave on the cutting room floor.

Paid leave is a unifying and much-needed policy that addresses multiple overlapping crises and trends. It means that people across the country can be with their loved ones in the happiest and scariest of times. It means that people can take jobs knowing that they will have paid leave if an emergency occurs. It means that people will have the income support they need during a paid leave and return to their jobs. And it means more security and stability for working families, businesses and the economy alike.

I urge the House and Senate to vote on the Build Back Better Act immediately."

Read New America's seven positive outcomes of a well-constructed, inclusive, and supportive paid family and medical leave program.