Immediate Release
March 12, 2019
Press Contact: [email protected]
IWF Praises Sens. Joni Ernst and Mike Lee for Leadership on Paid Leave
Budget-neutral proposal requires no new taxes & protects Social Security
Washington, DC — Following the introduction of the CRADLE Act, [Child Rearing and Development Leave Empowerment Act] which was inspired by and modeled after Independent Women’s Forum’s (IWF) Social Security Earned Leave policy proposal, IWF president Carrie Lukas issued the following statement:
“Independent Women’s Forum praises Senators Joni Ernst and Mike Lee for their leadership on the critical issue of expanding access to paid leave benefits for new parents. Americans don’t want parents struggling financially and unable to take the time off they need from work after having or adopting a child.
“Importantly, unlike other paid leave proposals that require a new payroll tax and mean less money in every worker’s paycheck, every single time, the CRADLE Act won’t raise taxes, grow government, or hurt workers’ economic opportunities. It is flexible and fair; it allows workers access to benefits they’ve already earned and it would only impact those who choose to take the earned-leave benefits. Furthermore, employers would still have an incentive to offer private leave benefits, and workers would have an incentive to use their leave judiciously.
“The CRADLE Act is a critical step in making existing safety net programs more modern and responsive to meet the needs of today’s workers. Importantly, it protects Social Security by ensuring that the impact is neutral over the long-term.
“We thank Senators Ernst and Lee for advancing a common-sense solution that can help all new parents who need it while being fair to all workers.”
Read more about the benefits of Social Security Earned Leave at IWF’s SSEL Information Center.
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Independent Women's Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well-intended, but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.