Washington, D.C. — Tomorrow, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) will introduce legislation to create a paid leave program for parents of new children that would be funded by raiding working parents’ Social Security benefits. Shilpa Phadke, vice president of the Women’s Initiative at the Center for American Progress, released the following statement ahead of tomorrow’s announcement:
This sham parental leave-only proposal is out of touch with the needs of working families. Not only does it ignore the fact that 75 percent of workers take leave for family caregiving or their own medical needs, but it would also result in a 6 percent cut to Social Security for parents taking two leave periods. This threatens the retirement security of hardworking families, and in particular women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities, who already have lower monthly Social Security benefits. Rather than focus on a proposal that is dead on arrival and opposed by groups across the ideological spectrum, Congress should pass a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program that reflects the demands on America’s workforce.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Colin Seeberger at [email protected] or 202.741.6292.