Gallego Backs the FAMILY Act to Guarantee Universal Paid Leave

Legislation would create a permanent, national paid family and medical leave program
WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)backed theFamily and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Actto guarantee up to 12 weeks of partial income for workers who have to take leave for serious medical and family events. Paid medical and family leave is especially helpful for new parents and older Americans, who are more likely to have health issues or caregiving obligations for older relatives.
“I was lucky to be able to take paternity leave when I had my kids, but for too many families, especially working-class families, paid family leave is simply not an option, and they can’t afford to take time off without it,”said Senator Gallego.“By guaranteeing 12 weeks of paid time off for medical and family events, we can make sure no Arizonan is ever forced to choose between their health, their family, and their paycheck.”
TheFAMILY Actdelivers a key solution to the country’s public health and economic challenges and is modeled on successful state programs. Currently, 73 percent of American workers do not have access to paid leave despite a large body of research showing that paid leave improves workers’ mental health, boosts employee retention and productivity, and helps businesses. Additionally, working families lose $22.5 billion per year in wages due to a lack of paid family and medical leave.
TheFAMILY Actwould provide workers with paid leave for a range of major life events, including:
Read the full billHERE.
Earlier this year, Senator Gallego supportedChild Care for Working Families Actto ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need.
12/10/25