WASHINGTON, D.C.—On behalf of the millions of patients and caregivers we represent, we applaud House lawmakers for listening to their constituents and taking action to amend the Build Back Better legislation to include the creation of a paid medical and family leave program.
Paid family and medical leave is critical for people with serious illnesses and health conditions and their caregivers. Treatment and recovery for many conditions is often difficult and drawn out. Patients and their families need to know they can take some time to care for themselves and their loved ones without facing financial devastation. This proposal is an important step toward providing some financial security for the more than 88 million American workers who currently have no access to paid family leave—many of whom are low-wage workers of color who are disproportionately diagnosed with serious illnesses.
We are pleased the importance of this provision has been recognized and included in the bill going forward. We thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Richard Neal and Chair Rosa DeLauro for their work and dedication on this issue and urge Congress to act swiftly on this important legislation.
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Patients and Caregivers Paid Leave Coalition Members: AARP, Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, The AIDS Institute, Alliance for Aging Research, ALS Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, Association for Clinical Oncology, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Association of Oncology Social Work, Black Women's Health Imperative, Cancer Support Community, Cervivor, Inc., Child Neurology Foundation, COVID Survivors for Change, Epilepsy Foundation, Family Voices, Friends of Cancer Research, Hemophilia Federation of America, Mended Hearts & Mended Little Hearts, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Hemophilia Foundation, Marked by COVID, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Susan G. Komen, Triage Cancer, UsAgainstAlzheimer's, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease and Zero - The End of Prostate Cancer.