{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140502015010/http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1477:delauro-gillibrand-introduce-family-and-medical-insurance-leave-act&catid=2:2012-press-releases&Itemid=21", "DeLauro, Gillibrand Introduce Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Rosa DeLauro", "D000216", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "DeLauro, Gillibrand Introduce Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act\t\t \n\n\tFAMILY Act Would Establish National Paid Family and Medical Leave\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\tWashington, DC \u2013 U.S. Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced new legislation today that would create paid family and medical leave. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Actwould establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program, ensuring that American workers would no longer have to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or a family member. They were joined at the announcement by business leaders and advocates, who talked about why the bill makes sense for businesses, as well as employees.\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t\u201cIn 1986, when I was Chief of Staff to Senator Chris Dodd, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,\u201d said Congresswoman DeLauro. \u201cMy doctors caught it early, but I still needed time for radiation treatment, recuperation and recovery. Senator Dodd told me to focus on getting well, and to take the time I needed. I could get better without worrying if I was out of a job or paycheck. All workers should have this opportunity when they need it. No one should have to choose between their job and taking care of themself and their family. With the FAMILY Act, they would not have to.\u201d\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t\u201cWhen a young parent needs time to care for a newborn child \u2013 it should never come down to an outdated policy that lets her boss decide how long it will take \u2013 and decide the fate of her career and her future along with it. When any one of us \u2013 man or woman \u2013 needs time to care for a dying parent \u2013 we should not have to sacrifice our job and risk our future to do the right thing for our family. Choosing between your loved ones and your career and your future is a choice no one should have to make,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand.\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\tCurrent Family and Medical Leave law provides unpaid, job-protected leave for serious health related events, but only about half of the workforce qualifies for this unpaid leave, and many more simply cannot afford to take it because it is unpaid.\u00a0\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\tThe FAMILY Act would create an independent trust fund within the Social Security Administration to collect fees and provide benefits. This trust would be funded by employee and employer contributions of 0.2 percent of wages each, creating a self-sufficient program that would not add to the federal budget. The expected cost to the average worker would be similar to the expense of one tall latte a week. Benefit levels, based on existing successful state programs in New Jersey and California, would equal 66 percent of an individual\u2019s typical monthly wages up to a capped monthly amount that would be indexed for inflation. \u00a0The proposal makes leave available to every individual regardless of the size of their current employer and regardless of whether such individual is currently employed by an employer, self-employed or currently unemployed, as long as the person has sufficient earnings and work history.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140502015010/http://delauro.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1477:delauro-gillibrand-introduce-family-and-medical-insurance-leave-act&catid=2:2012-press-releases&Itemid=21"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.3292270489037037, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}