U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand renews push for national paid family leave program (March 20, 2015)
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U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is renewing her push to establish a national paid family leave program.
Under the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act sponsored by Gillibrand, D-N.Y., workers would receive up to 60 work days, or 12 weeks, of paid leave for childbirth, pregnancies or other serious health conditions. The leave time could also be used to care for an ill family member.
To provide paid family leave, Gillibrand’s bill calls for the creation of a Social Security trust fund. Employees and employers would each contribute two-tenths of 1 percent of wages to fund the program.
According to Gillibrand, the average worker contribution would be similar to the cost of a cup of coffee.