Bipartisan Majority, Like Voters, Supports Paid Leave

Statement by Family Values @ Work Co-Directors Ellen Bravo and Wendy Chun-Hoon

“On September 25, the United States Senate took its first ever vote on paid leave. Had all members been present, the motion would have passed to include paid leave for federal employees (Federal Employees Paid Leave Act, or FEPLA) in the National Defense Authorization Act (FEPLA).
“Because four Senate Democratic candidates were absent, paid leave lost by one vote, 47-48. But these four indicated that they would have voted yes had they been there. Four Republican colleagues – Senators Capito, Collins, Murkowski and Portman – voted in support of the motion, along with all Democrats present.

“FEPLA would ensure wage replacement for more than 2 million federal employees when they need time to care for a new child or a serious personal or family illness. These are the people who show up after hurricanes and floods, the ones who make sure social security checks arrive on time, enforce worker protections, serve in the armed forces, safeguard our air travel, and so much more. As we saw in the government shutdown, most don’t earn enough to have a cushion – in order to weather several weeks without a paycheck, many relied on food banks, bank loans or rationing insulin.

“Paid leave for federal employees would help pave the way for passage of the FAMILY Act, to cover all families in the U.S. Supporters of paid leave nationwide will keep up the pressure over the next two weeks as negotiations on the NDAA continue. 

“This vote is a reminder that voters across the political spectrum support paid leave for all. We can have bipartisan support for comprehensive and inclusive paid leave policies. And we will continue to build on the successful models in the state to ensure passage of a paid leave policy that values all care and covers every family.