National Moms Group Applauds D.C. Council’s Passage of Universal Paid Leave Act

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 20 -- MomsRising issued the following Statement by CEO and Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner on the passage of the University 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."

MomsRising.org is an online and on-the-ground grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all families in the United States. MomsRising is working for paid family leave, flexible work options, affordable childcare, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes so many others. MomsRising also advocates for better childhood nutrition, health care for all, toxic-free environments, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. 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. In 2013, Forbes.com named MomsRising's web site as one of the Top 100 Websites For Women for the fourth year in a row and Working Mother magazine included MomsRising on its "Best of the Net"list. MomsRising also maintains a Spanish language website: MamasConPoder.org.

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