WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, members of the bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group, co-chaired by Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK), highlighted their progress since launching in January. The first-of-its-kind working group has held six Member-level meetings with policy and business experts. The meetings, mostly closed to the press, covered a range of topics and helped the working group explore possible legislative initiatives. Following the six-part briefing series, Member-level conversations will begin on a legislative framework to put forward in the coming months.

“Paid family leave remains a major priority as we continue working to support American families,” said the Paid Family Leave Working Group members. “Our bipartisan approach reflects our commitment to finding enduring solutions, and we look forward to sharing what we’ve learned and our recommendations for next steps.”

The bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Members include Co-Chairs Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Representatives Colin Allred (D-TX), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA), Hayley Stevens (D-MI), and Julia Letlow (R-LA). Following the creation of House working group, the Senate stood up a similar bipartisan group dedicated to advancing paid family leave policies for more Americans.

A summary of the six meetings to date can be found below.

·         History of Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): On February 7, 2023, the working group was joined by former Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and former Republican HELP Committee Staffer Stephanie Monroe – both individuals who were instrumental in passing FMLA 30 years ago.

·         Lessons Learned from Successful State-Level Paid Leave Efforts: On March 28, 2023, representatives from Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington, and the District of Columbia briefed the working group on their successful efforts to enact paid leave legislation.

·         Hearing from Private Insurance Industry: On April 18, 2023, various insurance companies came to Capitol Hill to discuss the role they might play in implementing paid leave policies.

·         Convening Small Business Leaders: On May 11, 2023, nearly a dozen leaders in the small business sector shared their hopes and concerns about the impact of a federal paid leave policy on staffing and operating costs.

·         Large Employers and Trade Association Collaboration: On July 18, 2023, the working group hosted large companies such as The Home Depot and IBM, alongside trade associations, to discuss their current paid leave policies and how a federal framework might operate.

·         Intersection of Caregiving and Paid Leave: On September 28, 2023, the working group held their sixth and final fact-finding meeting to talk about how related issues like childcare and senior care affect the paid leave landscape.

Earlier this year, the working group also sent a letter to then Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries, urging consideration of paid leave legislation during the 118^th Congress.

ICYMI: Read what they’re saying about the bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNN, and Forbes.

Photos:

Reps. Miller-Meeks, Bice, Houlahan, and Stevens (L to R) speak at the launch of the working group in January, co-hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and Engage.

Reps. Letlow, Bice, Houlahan, Allred, and Stevens (center to R) hear from former Senator Chris Dodd (L) at the working group’s first meeting in February.

Reps. Bice, Allred, Houlahan, and Letlow (center-L to center-R) stand with leaders from the small business sector following their May meeting.

Reps. Houlahan, Bice, and Miller-Meeks (L to R) meet on October 26 to discuss next steps.