Wagner, Rubio Announce Conservative Paid Family Leave Legislation

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Ann Wagner (MO-2) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) announced conservative paid parental leave legislation for working American families. Senator Rubio introduced his bill this week, and Rep. Wagner will introduce her legislation in September when the House comes back into session. Additional information on the proposal is attached. Wagner's full remarks are available here. Broadcast quality video and audio of her remarks are available here.

These bills will establish a national paid parental leave program within the Social Security Administration. The program would provide partial wage replacement for workers across the country who temporarily need to take time off from their jobs to take care for and bond with a newborn infant or newly adopted child.

"We are the only industrialized country in the world that does not offer access to paid maternity leave," said Rep. Ann Wagner. "My legislation will enable families to make their own financial planning decisions by expanding access to paid leave benefits without raising taxes, new mandates, growing the government, or hurting the economic opportunities of both employers and workers. This plan will not only lessen the challenges of being a new mom or dad, but it will incentivize parents to stay in the workforce. "