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Calling upon the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact Senate Bill SB906, the “Family Care Act,” which would establish a statewide paid family medical leave program, and recognizing the passage of parental leave legislation in Allegheny County.
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WHEREAS, Without paid family medical leave, working families forego tens of thousands of dollars in income to care for newborns or loved ones with serious illnesses, or to transition out of domestic violence situations; and
WHEREAS, As many as 23% of employed mothers return to work within ten days of giving birth, because of their inability to pay living expenses without income; and
WHEREAS, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, Studies show that paid family medical leave contributes to better physical health for mothers and infants as measured by a decrease in mother and infant rehospitalizations, lower rates of infant mortality, fewer premature births, higher birthweight as well as an increase in pediatric visit attendance; and
WHEREAS, Paid family medical leave is associated with improved mental and emotional health for mothers as measured by a decrease in postpartum maternal depression and intimate partner violence, and improved infant attachment and child development; and
WHEREAS, The strongest positive effects of paid family medical leave on infant and maternal health are shown for Black mothers and infants; and
WHEREAS, The Family Care Act would provide domestic violence survivors time off to address legal, medical, or safety issues related to Domestic Violence, help reduce the disruptive impact of DV on work and help survivors afford to stabilize; and
WHEREAS, Paid family medical leave benefits employers by improving employee retention, wellness, and overall productivity; and
WHEREAS, By establishing a statewide paid family medical leave program in Pennsylvania, the Family Care Act would provide workers with paid leave after the birth or adoption of a child, to care for a family member, to recover from a serious health condition, to have safe leave for domestic violence or abusive caregiving situations and to tend to a family matter related to military deployment; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny county passed the first county-level paid parental leave policy in the country, granting 12 weeks of paid parental leave as a public health measure; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia faces an opportunity to model Allegheny county and pass similar local policy; and
WHEREAS, Companion bill HB200 passed in the house which would require employers to provide 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents, victims of violent acts, and care for a serious health condition, including illness, injury, and pregnancy; and
WHEREAS, 81% of Pennsylvania voters support establishing a state family and medical leave fund in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Given the substantial mental and physical health benefits associated with paid leave, as well as favorable results from studies on its economic impact, Pennsylvania faces a clear, evidence-based mandate to create a statewide paid family medical leave policy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Calls upon the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact Senate Bill SB906, the “Family Care Act,” which would establish a statewide paid family medical leave program, and recognizes the passage of parental leave legislation in Allegheny County.
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