Committee Examined Need for Comprehensive National Paid Family and Medical Leave

Washington, D.C. (Dec. 11, 2019)—Today, in her first hearing as permanent chair, Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney examined the need for comprehensive national paid family and medical leave. The hearing comes on the heels of a historic National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) agreement that would provide all federal employees with 12 weeks paid parental leave, based on language from the Chairwoman's bill, H.R. 1534: Federal Employee Paid Leave Act.

TAKEAWAYS

• Witnesses testified to the harmful consequences for working families who do not have access to comprehensive paid family and medical leave.
  
• Members examined how the economic benefits of a comprehensive paid leave policy apply to both workers and employers.
  
• While applauding the inclusion of FEPLA provisions in the NDAA agreement as an important first step, Members heard testimony on the need to press ahead for a national comprehensive paid leave policy all workers.

WITNESSES

Panel One

The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Congresswoman
3rd Congressional District of Connecticut

Panel Two

Jacqui Silvani
Newfields, New Hampshire

The Honorable Robert Asaro-Angelo
Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Aaron Seyedian
Founder
Well-Paid Maids

Jennifer Tucker
Senior Policy Advisor
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

Vicki Shabo
Senior Fellow, Paid Leave Policy and Strategy, Better Life Lab
New America

VIDEOS

Click here to watch Chairwoman Maloney's opening statement.

Click here to watch Rep. Connolly's opening statement.

Click here to watch Rep. DeLauro's testimony.

Click here to watch Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's question line.

Click here to watch Rep. Wasserman-Schultz's question line.