“Today’s hearing and roundtable discussion on policies that would promote the economic security of women and their families, held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), brings much-needed and deserved attention to a set of proposals that would have a tremendously positive impact on women, families, our communities and our economy. The National Partnership commends members of the Senate HELP committee for making this discussion a priority.

Raising the minimum wage, combating gender-based pay discrimination and discrimination based on pregnancy, and establishing national paid sick days and paid family and medical leave standards, are essential to protecting and promoting women’s economic security. And the good news is that there are existing proposals, such as the Fair Minimum Wage Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Healthy Families Act and the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, that would mean real progress in advancing these priorities.

As conveners of the national coalition of organizations pushing for family friendly workplace policies, as well as a leader of the coalition committed to advancing the FAMILY Act, the National Partnership is very pleased to see a diverse group of our allies and coalition partners coming together with members of Congress to discuss the urgent need to bring our country’s workplace policies in line with the needs of its workforce. We look forward to continued attention and action on these policies, and the truly family friendly America they will help build.”