Today, the FAMILY Act was reintroduced in Congress by sponsors Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. This legislation would establish a national paid family and medical leave program, guaranteeing workers 12 weeks of paid leave to welcome a new child, care for a seriously ill loved one, attend to one’s own serious medical needs, address military family caregiving needs, and to respond to domestic, sexual, and other forms of violence.
The following is a statement from A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar:
“It is astounding that in 2025, the U.S. still lacks a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program, lagging behind numerous other countries that consider these protections a fundamental right. Without paid leave, Americans are constantly being forced to choose between their financial security, and being there for their loved ones as they navigate health crises, or accessing the treatment they need during medical emergencies, or taking the time they need to welcome a new baby. The FAMILY Act is the real, robust paid family and medical leave program that families nationwide need and deserve.
14 states have passed successful statewide paid family and medical leave programs, but every day we hear from workers across the country through our helpline who are suffering because they can’t take the time they need to care for themselves and loved ones without taking a financial hit. A lack of access to paid leave disproportionately impacts workers in low-wage jobs – especially young workers, women, and workers of color – who can’t afford to wait any longer for these protections.
In an affordability crisis, solutions like paid leave that help families to put food on the table should be a priority. The ‘paid leave’ tax credits included in the Trump Administration-backed reconciliation bill have been floated as a solution, but data shows that this inadequate approach only provides a subsidy for the small handful of billion-dollar corporations already able to offer paid leave – which does nothing to meaningfully extend these rights to millions of workers who urgently need them. The last thing workers should have to worry about during life’s most important moments is losing out on their income; Congress must prioritize passing this lifeline legislation.”