House Pushes for Bipartisan Paid Leave in Trump’s Mega Bill

Clear Facts

• Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Stephanie Bice introduced bipartisan legislation for paid family leave, aiming to include it in the upcoming GOP tax bill.
• The More Paid Leave for More Americans Act consists of two components: the Paid Family Leave Public Partnerships Act and the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network Act (I-PLAN Act).
• This legislative effort is a result of two years of collaboration among bipartisan members of the House Paid Family Leave Working Group.

In a significant move towards bipartisan cooperation, Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Republican Rep. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma have introduced legislation focused on paid family leave. This initiative, titled the More Paid Leave for More Americans Act, is poised to be part of the forthcoming GOP tax bill.

The proposed legislation is divided into two main components: the Paid Family Leave Public Partnerships Act and the Interstate Paid Leave Action Network Act (I-PLAN Act). These measures are the result of two years of collaboration involving not only Houlahan and Bice, but also other congressional members including Republican Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Randy Feenstra, Julia Letlow, and Democratic Reps. Haley Stevens, Don Beyer, and Jimmy Gomez.

The Paid Family Leave Public Partnerships Act is designed as a three-year pilot program under the Department of Labor. It aims to provide states with grants to establish their own paid family leave programs. To qualify for these grants, states must offer wage replacement between 50% and 67% based on income, with a benefits cap at 150% of the state’s average weekly wage. Additionally, they must provide at least six weeks of paid leave following childbirth or adoption and engage in a public-private partnership model, while participating in the I-PLAN for nationwide consistency.

“As a mother myself, I recognize the challenges and the importance of uplifting working parents so that they do not have to choose between caring for a newborn and a paycheck,” Bice stated.

She emphasized that the act empowers states to create sustainable paid leave programs through public-private partnerships, without imposing a “one-size-fits-all federal program.”

The I-PLAN Act aims to establish a national framework that assists states in coordinating benefits and data, reducing confusion for workers who may reside in one state but work in another. This plan seeks to enhance best practices from existing state programs, unify policies, and create a communication system to improve efficiency and accessibility.

“Regardless of party, Americans believe that Congress must act and support efforts nationwide to advance paid family and medical leave,” Houlahan remarked.

She expressed gratitude for the partnership with Rep. Bice and other colleagues, acknowledging the ongoing work required to achieve comprehensive paid leave for all Americans.

The United States remains one of the few countries without a national paid family leave policy. Efforts to address this have been ongoing, with significant steps taken during previous administrations, including the introduction of bipartisan initiatives.

As this new bipartisan effort unfolds, it represents a critical step towards providing more American families with the support they need during pivotal life moments.

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