Statement of Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 26, 2025 – This week, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin once more vetoed HB 2531, legislation that would have provided 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to working Virginians. The legislation passed with bipartisan support from the Virginia General Assembly, but was blocked by the governor’s veto for the second year in a row.
“This latest veto by Governor Youngkin is deeply troubling and disappointing and sends a clear message about his lack of commitment to adopting concrete policies to address the real needs of families across the state. For too many families, the lack of access to caregiving supports like paid family and medical leave means that they must make impossible choices between keeping a job or ensuring that family members have the care they need when they need it. These choices often fall on the shoulders of women, who disproportionately take on the bulk of caregiving responsibilities in their families. In Virginia, this veto will deprive the 3.5 million Virginians who do not have access to paid family and medical leave through their jobs of the freedom to care for their loved ones without worrying about being able to pay their bills.
“Rather than strengthening the state’s workforce and ensuring it remains competitive with other states, the Governor’s veto leaves Virginians behind their neighbors and coworkers in Maryland and D.C., whose leaders have already enacted paid leave protections. Paid leave is a popular policy that enjoys widespread support in every region of the country because it responds to the everyday challenges – and costs – people must navigate. Today’s veto makes clear that the Governor is unwilling to address these challenges and ensure that Virginia’s workers have the support that they need.
“While this veto is a significant blow to Virginia’s workers, business owners and economy, all is not lost. Advocates across the state will continue this fight, and our organization will continue to work alongside them to ensure that paid leave becomes a reality for all Virginians and every worker in the U.S.”
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