SPECIAL REQUEST: Your Help Needed with Voting Today at 2 PM EDT
March 18, 2020Starting at 2:00 PM EDT today, the Senate will be voting on two amendments on the House-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which would dramatically alter the paid family leave provisions in the legislation.
The first amendment, introduced by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) & Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), would close the paid family and medical leave loophole. Currently, Section 3102 of the House bill requires only private employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide up to 10 weeks of paid family and medical leave during the coronavirus emergency. If the Murray-Gillibrand Amendment passes, large employers, such as Walmart and McDonalds, would be required to abide by these same PFL rules.
The second amendment, introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), would eliminate the emergency paid family and medical leave expansion section of the House bill. If passed, the amendment from Senator Johnson would allow employers to reject paid benefits to their workers who are taking time off either because they have contracted the coronavirus or are taking care of a loved one who has contracted the coronavirus.
The National Human Services Assembly urges our members & partners to call your Senators immediately to vote in favor of the Murray-Gillibrand Amendment and against Senator Johnson’s Amendment! For more, reach out to policy@nassembly.org.