Washington, D.C. — The Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act has been reintroduced to Congress. If enacted, this piece of legislation would create the first permanent right to paid, job-protected comprehensive family and medical leave for all American workers. A new Center for American Progress report highlights the key components of the latest version of the legislation, who can receive benefits, and how current state paid leave is impacted.
Today, less than half of the private sector workforce have access to short-term disability coverage through their employer to cover extended medical leave, and fewer than 1 in 4 private sector workers have access to paid family leave. The FAMILY Act would change that and ensure all workers, no matter their wage or type of employment, would have access to paid leave to get the care they need, care for a loved one, or bond with a new child without fear of losing their economic security. This new report examines the new FAMILY Act and how it will benefit all workers so that no matter where you live or what you do, you can take care of yourself or a loved one without risking your paycheck.
“The FAMILY Act would finally guarantee all American workers the paid leave they need, propelling this country toward a more just economy and workers toward a more secure future,” said Molly Weston Williamson, a senior fellow at CAP and author of the report. “It is time to make this transformative bill into law and ensure that all of everyone—not merely a fortunate few—can get and give the care they deserve.”
Read the report: “Getting To Know the New FAMILY Act” by Molly Weston Williamson.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, please contact Sarah Nadeau at [email protected].