DeLauro Applauds Inclusion of Paid Family and Medical Leave in the Build Back Better Act

WASHINGTON, DC — House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued this statement celebrating the inclusion of four weeks of paid family and medical leave in the Build Back Better Act:

"We did it. The Build Back Better framework is transformational, and with the inclusion of paid family and medical leave, we are responding to the needs of workers and their families and building a more resilient economy.

"This victory is personal for so many American workers and their families, and it is personal for me. From taking time off when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer to caring for my mother in her final days, I took the time when I needed it. No one questioned my motives, threatened my job, or forced me to go without pay. All workers deserve this. Paid family and medical leave should be guaranteed not left to the whims of employers.

"I thank Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Neal for their tireless advocacy and their fight to get this over the finish line. Now is the time to pass this critical legislation."

DeLauro has been working on family and medical leave since the 1980s when she was Senator Dodd's Chief of Staff. She worked closely with Chairman Neal to craft the version of paid family and medical leave included in the Build Back Better Act.

In 2010, DeLauro began drafting landmark paid family and medical leave legislation. She first introduced comprehensive paid family and medical leave legislation, the FAMILY Act, in 2013 and has reintroduced every Congress since then.