Family Leave Insurance Act of 2008: We Need Oregon Co-Sponsors

I have said on occasion that Moms Rising doesn't always speak to me, but on the proposed federal legislation for a national paid family leave program, they're workin' it and I couldn't be happier to hear from them.  This is a big one, mamas, so quick, like now, ask our Congressional delegation to co-sponsor the just-introduced Family Leave Insurance Act of 2008.  Voting for it when (if!) the time comes is one thing, mamas, but co-sponsoring it would make me feel truly represented all those miles away in our nation's capital. 

Moms Rising says we real-live mamas are a make-it-or-break-it force on this one, and I believe it.  They also acknowledge that 'it's going to take some heavy lifting to get the co-sponsors and momentum this bill needs to pass.'  So step right up and e-mail your U.S. Senators and Representatives NOW and ask them to co-sponsor this bill.  Hello Senator Smith?  Wyden?  Earl?  David?  We're asking you to represent us, your Oregon mamastituents, on this one.  Anyone gonna be a leader on this one?  It's not only the right thing to do, it's a smart political move, too.  Win-win.

What would the bill do?  Some impressive stuff, mamas:

1. Provide all workers with 12 weeks of paid leave over a 12-month period to care for a new child, provide for an ill family member, treat their own illness, or deal with an exigency caused by the deployment of a member of the military;
2. Provide these benefits through a new trust fund that is financed equally by employers and employees, who will each contribute 0.2% of the employee's pay;
3. Progressively tier the benefits so that a low wage worker (earning less than $30,000) will receive full or near full salary replacement, middle income workers ($30,000- $60,000) receive 55% wage replacement, and higher earners (over $60,000) receive 40-45%, with the benefit capped at approximately $800 per week;
4. Administer the program through the Department of Labor which will contract with states to administer the program (similar to how the Unemployment Insurance program is run);
5. Allow states and businesses with materially equivalent or better benefits to opt-out of the program.

And, if you're a diehard, don't forget to RSS the bill's progress so you know what's happening and when to jump in.  Once our IT division sorts it out, we'll have a nifty little bill tracker on the site, but till then, mamas, you'll just have to get your own feed!

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Similar post on Business Week's Working Parent blog: http://www.businessweek.com/careers/workingparents/blog/archives/2008/05/maternity_leave.html?campaign_id=rss_blog_workingparents