DELAURO APPLAUDS CONNECTICUT PASSAGE OF PAID SICK DAYS LEGISLATION

New Haven, CT— Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today in response to the passage of paid sick days legislation by the Connecticut State Legislature.

Since 2004, Congresswoman DeLauro has introduced the Healthy Families Act in the House of Representatives, legislation that would enable workers to earn up 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 7 days' worth of paid leave.

"I am thrilled that Connecticut has passed this legislation and is poised to lead the nation on this critical issue. It is my belief that all Americans should be able to take care of themselves and their families if they are sick without having to worry about losing their jobs. This new law will help to ensure that our state's workers will be able to do so—and their ability to take time off, instead of showing up to work sick, known as ‘presenteeism,' will help to reduce the estimated $160 billion a year in lost productivity across the country. Ensuring workers have access to paid sick days is in the best interests of our families, our state, and our nation and economy, and I will keep fighting to pass legislation at the federal level that will extend this benefit to all Americans."