On the recordSeptember 25, 2019
Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to ensure that Congress is working toward commonsense, effective family leave solutions. It is well past time we made paid parental leave a reality in this country. Affording all moms and dads the flexibility to spend time with their new baby is something Americans want to see happen. While I appreciate the resolution by my colleague from the State of Hawaii, putting Washington insiders and Federal employees first doesn't add up as the right first step. I believe we need to think more broadly about this issue and how it impacts hard-working families in Iowa and across the country. We all recognize there are significant barriers for new, working parents to spend time with their baby during those critical and precious first few months. That is why I am working with Senator Mike Lee on a proposal to offer paid parental leave to all new parents in a way that is both budget neutral and flexible. In fact, a number of Republicans and Democrats are working on potential pathways forward. At the heart of all of it, we simply cannot lose sight of the fact that we need solutions that work for all American families, not just those fortunate enough to have a government job. If we are serious about enacting paid family leave policies, instead of scoring political wins, we will support the resolution before us. Families are the bedrock of our society. Let's look for solutions that all Americans can embrace.…





