DeLauro Hails White House Announcement on Paid Sick Days

NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today hailing President Obama’s executive order requiring federal contractors to give their employees paid sick leave. DeLauro is the author of the Healthy Families Act, which would allow workers to earn paid sick leave to use when they are sick, to care for a sick family member, to obtain preventive care, or to address the impacts of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault.

“The United States is the only developed country that does not require employers to offer paid sick days. Not only is it in the best interest of the employee to take care of themselves or their family member, it benefits their colleagues and employers. I am proud that my home state of Connecticut was the first in the nation to pass a paid sick days law, in 2011. Since then it has spread to California, Massachusetts, nearly 20 cities and with the President’s announcement it has gone national. But the fight is not over for millions of Americans who are still left to choose between a paycheck and their well-being. The Healthy Families Act is smart policy that needs to become law.”

DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. She has introduced the Healthy Families Act in every congress since 2004.


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