Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to talk about paid family leave. I want to introduce this topic by saying that politicians across America, whether they are local, whether they are in State offices, or whether they are in very important bodies like the U.S. Senate, make one pledge; that is, to support American families. They promise to try to make life just a little easier for people who are raising the next generation, to do what it takes to encourage people to have families and to have children, so our future is secured not only with a workforce but also the vibrancy that is America. It has been 25 years since we adopted the Family Medical Leave Act. That was a great step forward, and I actually remember when it happened. I was North Dakota's attorney general cheering from the sidelines, thinking: We have solved this problem. We are now protecting parents from losing their jobs and enabling them to care for their newborns. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough because how many people, even if they have the protection, can afford to exercise their rights under the Family Medical Leave Act? The answer is very, very few in my State. It is absolutely essential that we take this to the next step. It is essential that we make sure we are not forcing our citizens to choose between working--as they have to when families live paycheck to paycheck--and caring for their newborn. Many daycare facilities will not even take an infant until they are 10 or 12 weeks old.…”