Families need a paid family leave program that includes caregiving
My son was born with kidney cancer. At five days old, he had surgery to remove his left kidney which was encapsulated by a tumor the size of a racquetball. A week later he had a second surgery. After that he received chemotherapy every Friday for the first 6 months of his life.
My family was extremely lucky. We had miracle doctors and nurses who treated and saved our son. We had the gift of time granted by the benefits of job security and access to paid family leave policies to recover from childbirth, stay by his side in the hospital and care for him at home between treatments.
We know how fortunate we are on all accounts. We wish our story was the norm instead of the exception.
The President claims paid family leave as a top priority for his administration, but his just-released 2020 budget does not include caregiving within its provisions for family leave. Add your name if you agree good paid family leave policy must include caregiving leave.
Victoria Sevcik - PL+US Supporter
To President Trump and Members of Congress
Paid family leave is a deeply personal and important issue to me. Through the joy of having a child and through the pain of nursing a loved one through illness or end of life, we all need to be there for our families. Whatever the circumstance, it is family love and support that helps all of us. I believe that family must come first.
But putting family first comes at too high a price for most Americans: people cannot afford to go without pay. That is why in the United States 1 in 4 mothers are forced to leave their babies less than two weeks after giving birth and why 70 percent of working caregivers are forced into serious financial hardship due to their dual roles. Lack of paid family leave is hurting our families, our country, and the economy. With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the demand for family care is only increasing.
It is encouraging to see real movement happening across political lines. We need a solution that not only supports new parents but a solution that will help all our families. As you advance your proposals, please expand your paid leave policy to help all Americans struggling to care for their families.
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