Rashida Tlaib: “As a mother myself, I know that there are circumstances out of our control that require families, especially the…”

“As a mother myself, I know that there are circumstances out of our control that require families, especially the mothers, to take time off from work, especially new mothers. Whether it is your sick child, a parent, or a personal illness yourself, taking unpaid leave is not a reality for millions of our American families, our mothers. Too many mothers are forced to choose between taking care of their families or keeping their jobs. We need paid leave for all by providing mothers with the time off they need to care for themselves and their families. No one, Mr. Speaker, not a single person should have to fear losing the income they need to keep a roof over their families' heads in exchange for literally just being able to take care of their child. {time} 1915 The Healthy Families Act would guarantee employees the right to earn paid sick days each year--again, earn it. Now, I don't want us to forget a big crisis that we have, and I think the pandemic exposed this crisis. We have a childcare crisis in our country. Affordable childcare is also incredibly essential for working mothers and the well-being of our children. Access to quality, affordable childcare allows mothers to continue to pursue their careers while knowing that their child is safe and taken care of. By investing in affordable childcare, we can support working mothers and help them achieve economic justice and be able to thrive, not just survive.…”