WASHINGTON, D.C. — Independent Women’s Forum Policy Director Hadley Heath Manning will testify in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform at 10am ET this morning on H.R. 564, the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act.
Manning joins witnesses Everett Kelley, national president, American Federation for Government Employees; Vicki Shabo, senior fellow, Paid Leave Policy and Strategy, Better Life Lab at New America; Lelaine Bigelow, interim vice president for economic justice and congressional relations, National Partnership for Women and Families; and Eric Sorkin, co-owner and chief executive officer, Runamok Maple.
The hearing will focus on the impacts of comprehensive paid family and medical leave on the federal workforce, as well as efforts to bring this model nationwide. H.R. 564 legislation aligns with the Biden administration’s proposed American Families Plan, which would mandate 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.
In her testimony, Manning writes, “Expanding access to paid family and medical leave is a noble goal, but the real question is how. While this bill is surely well-intended, lawmakers should also fully consider any costs, trade offs, risks and downsides associated with extending a generous paid leave benefit to the federal workforce.”
She adds, “Lawmakers should keep in mind that the government is in some ways a unique employer and should not serve as a model for all private-sector employers, who are diverse in size, industry, labor force, and resources. The government can increase taxes or use deficit spending to fund new benefits for employees; private-sector employers cannot.“
Manning’s full testimony can be found HERE once the hearing begins.
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