Paid Leave Expert’s Statement on Budget Resolution

The following statement can be attributed to Vicki Shabo, Senior Fellow, Paid Leave Policy and Strategy, Better Life Lab:

“For advocates, researchers, business leaders – and most of all, workers and families – who have been asking and marshalling evidence for national paid family and medical leave for years, the Finance Committee’s priority list for budget reconciliation – with paid family and medical leave at the top – is a sweet victory.

The U.S. is still in the midst of a health crisis, a workforce crisis for women, people of color and caregivers, an economic inequality crisis and a racial justice crisis. Paid leave will strengthen our country’s health, families, workforce and economy and allow us to build toward a stronger future.

I applaud years of passionate paid leave advocacy by Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and the fierce commitment of President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Senate Budget Chair Sanders, Senate Finance Chair Wyden and Senate HELP Chair Murray and House Ways & Means Chairman Neal to pass paid leave this year. Paid leave – and every other care economy priority for children, older and disabled adults and the paid care workforce included in this historic budget resolution – cannot wait.”

Additional Resources

• For a quick take on how advocates and lawmakers’ years of efforts led to this, read my latest blog from last week, reflecting on the Washington, D.C. stop of the Paid Leave for All Bus Tour and the commitments that congressional leaders made there.
• For an explainer on national Rep. Neal and President Biden’s paid leave proposals, click here.
• For more on the evidence-based outcomes the country can expect from a national paid leave program, read this.
• For details on state paid leave programs, click here.