DeLauro, Gillibrand Introduce Measure To Establish National Paid Leave Program

Two Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced a measure (bill numbers not yet available) Dec. 12 that would establish a national, self-funded program to provide workers with paid family and medical leave.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)are the chief sponsors of the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, which hasn’t been introduced in previous sessions of Congress.

The measure is patterned on existing state programs in California, New Jersey and Rhode Island, which supporters said have been successful in providing workers with needed leave in the case of a serious illness or injury ...