“U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D – Wash.) sent a clear, unmistakable message to paid sick days advocates across the country today: We should continue our aggressive work in support of the Healthy Families Act because she will do everything possible to pass it in this Congress. Addressing members of the national Work and Family Coalition on a call convened by the National Partnership for Women & Families, the senator affirmed her commitment to increasing access to paid sick days. Her leadership is tremendous and inspiring. We are thrilled to have her as a Senate champion for paid sick days.

Following the call, more than 180 of the coalition’s partner organizations from the majority of states sent a letter to Congress calling for passage of the Healthy Families Act, which would establish a national paid sick days standard. The organizations represent a broad range of groups including women, children, workers, people with disabilities and many others.

At least 43 million private sector workers in this country cannot earn a single paid sick day. And Senator Murray has clearly demonstrated her commitment to changing that. She reintroduced the Healthy Families Act in February along with longtime champion Representative Rosa DeLauro (D – Conn.), and she raised the profile of the issue by introducing a paid sick days budget amendment last month that passed with the support of 61 senators — Democrats, Republicans and independents. Today, she joined national coalition leaders and a worker from Washington to talk about the importance of paid sick days and to preview next steps.

There is a strong and growing body of evidence that shows paid sick days have widespread benefits, and unprecedented momentum and public demand. We encourage all members of Congress to commit to advancing the Healthy Families Act this year. Paid sick days laws are or will soon be in place in 21* places across the country and 81 percent of voters say they want lawmakers to consider new laws like paid sick days. It is past time for action at the federal level.”

Today’s national Work and Family Coalition call, featuring Senator Murray, Vicki Shabo (National Partnership for Women & Families), Candice Hemphill (worker from Washington), Ellen Bravo (Family Values @ Work) and Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (MomsRising), can be listened to in its entirety here.

The National Partnership convenes a broad and diverse coalition that supports the Healthy Families Act. More information can be found at www.PaidSickDays.org.

* Paid sick days laws are or will soon be in place in 21 jurisdictions across the country. Three states: Connecticut (enacted 2011, effective 2012), California (enacted 2014, effective 2015) and Massachusetts (enacted 2014, effective 2015). And 18 cities: San Francisco (enacted 2006, effective 2007) and Oakland (enacted 2014, effective 2015), Calif.; Washington, D.C. (enacted and effective 2008 and expanded 2014); Seattle (enacted 2011, effective 2012) and Tacoma (enacted 2015, effective 2016), Wash.; Portland (enacted 2013, effective 2014) and Eugene (enacted 2014, effective 2015), Ore.; New York City (enacted 2013, expanded and effective 2014); Bloomfield (enacted and effective 2015), East Orange, Irvington, Jersey City, Montclair, Newark, Paterson, Passaic and Trenton, N.J. (all enacted in 2013 and 2014, effective in 2014 or 2015); and Philadelphia, Pa. (enacted and effective 2015).