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DeLauro Statement on Senator Johnson’s Attempt to Remove Paid Sick Days and Paid Leave Proposal from House-Passed Coronavirus Response Bill

March 18, 2020

NEW HAVEN, CT(March 18, 2020)Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement after Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) filed an amendment to the remove paid sick days and paid leave provisions from the House-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

"Senator Johnson's attempt to remove already-weakened paid sick days and paid leave provisions from the House-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act is reprehensible. Fortunately for him, Senator Johnson does not have to worry about taking paid sick days or paid leave because he will get his paycheck no matter what. If paid sick days and paid leave are good enough for Senators and Members of Congress, then they are good enough for the American people."

"People are struggling now more than ever to make ends meet due to the coronavirus and the drastic measures necessary to fight its spread. As schools and businesses move online when possible—or close down outright—we need to make sure that working people and families have a backstop. Paid sick days and paid leave will help make that possible. These provisions do not and will not make people lazy or hurt businesses—just the opposite in fact. Now is the time for bold action to help people when they need it most, not more of the same partisan games and outdated thinking."

On Saturday, the House of Representatives passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, legislation that will ensure free coronavirus tests for all—including the uninsured, access to paid sick days and longer-term paid leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, expanded food security for seniors, kids, and families, and increased funding for state Medicaid programs.