“The paid family and medical leave legislation Mayor Muriel Bowser let advance tonight is smart, fair and balanced. It would benefit the District of Columbia’s workers, families and businesses of all sizes, strengthen the District’s economy and improve its public health. By allowing this historic and badly needed legislation to move forward, the mayor has accepted the will of D.C. residents and lawmakers who overwhelmingly support the measure and spent more than a year crafting such a sound approach. She has done the right thing for her constituents and her city.

The future of paid leave in the District is now in the hands of members of Congress and they should let this bill become law. If they do, it will mean access to paid leave in D.C. will no longer be a privilege reserved largely for white-collar workers, and hundreds of thousands of workers will no longer worry that they will have to make impossible choices between their jobs and their health or their families when new children are born or adopted or when serious illnesses or injuries arise.

The National Partnership for Women & Families applauds the D.C. Paid Family Leave Coalition for its commitment to securing a strong, comprehensive paid family and medical leave program for the District, as well as the council members who showed real leadership in developing and championing the proposal. We urge members of Congress to show the same wisdom, compassion and commitment to making lives better for working families by letting this paid leave program for the District become law. The District of Columbia will be much better off when it is.”