“We commend the Obama administration and the U.S. Department of Labor for providing $1.25 million for grants to states, municipalities and Indian tribes to research and analyze how to develop and implement paid leave programs, and for issuing the application for grants today. States are innovators on paid family and medical leave, and are proving every day that paid leave strengthens families, businesses, communities and our economy.

At a time when just 13 percent of U.S. workers have access to paid family leave through their employers, and just three states (California, New Jersey and Rhode Island) have paid family leave programs in place, these grants are badly needed. They will support research and analysis to develop state paid family and medical leave programs, including cost-benefit, economic impact, and eligibility and benefit modeling studies.

The Obama administration’s ‘Lead on Leave’ tour and today’s announcement are important steps forward in winning the paid family and medical leave America’s families need – and in making our workplaces more family friendly and fair. The demand for paid leave in this country is strong and growing: 20 state legislatures considered bills to address paid family and medical leave this year; several cities adopted paid parental leave for municipal employees; and a wide range of employers including Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft and Facebook are stepping up on paid leave.

But the country is suffering without a national paid leave program because, to date, Congress has failed to take action. We urge congressional leaders to make it a high priority to pass the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act this year so all workers, no matter where they live or what job they hold, have access to paid family and medical leave.”