House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the United States is the ONLY industrialized country without national paid parental leave.  Fortunately for some, several states are circumventing the failure of our national system by enacting laws to provide for paid family leave. 

 
Unpaid leave is not the answer.  While the federal Family Federal Leave Act (FMLA) provides unpaid leave, most families cannot afford to go without a paycheck.  Parents should be able to take care of their loved ones without worrying about how they are going to provide food, clothing, and shelter.  

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the shortcomings of our health care system.  Years of a misguided focus on dismantling the Affordable Care Act have left many of our constituents struggling to pay for their healthcare during the pandemic, while also providing for their families.  While hope is on the horizon with a vaccine for COVID-19, I believe we must focus on how we can strengthen the safety net for families in the future. 

 
During my tenure,  I have been a proponent of paid family leave.  As such, I have introduced legislation over the last several sessions, such as HB 625 of last session, to provide for paid family leave for childbirth/adoption. 

 

The measure I will be introducing in the current legislative session would establish the Paid Family Leave Act in our Commonwealth.  Any leave under this act would be counted against the FMLA leave for which an employee is entitled to by federal law, for many of the same circumstances as FMLA, with a significant difference:  The leave will be paid leave, not unpaid leave as provided for under FMLA.   

 
Pennsylvania should be the next state to stand firmly on the side of workers and families by enacting paid family leave. 
 
Please join me in putting Pennsylvania families first!