ISAIAH was proud to stand with the Children’s Defense Fund and the AFL-CIO as co-chairs of the Minnesotans for Paid Family Leave coalition at a press conference in support of Paid Family and Medical Leave. Everyone in Minnesota has a story of caring for a family member or needing care.

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ISAIAH Executive Director Doran Schrantz addresses journalists during a press conference by Minnesotans for Paid Family Leave, “Everyone in Minnesota has a story of caring for a family member or needing care. Everyone needs Paid Family Leave.”

Senator Katie Sieben, Rep. Jason Metsa, Rep. Peggy Flanagan, and several other legislators joined the press conference to announce proposed legislation to establish a state insurance program that would offer workers in the state a portion of their pay for up to 12 weeks a year for pregnancy or medical issues. Workers would also receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member or to care for a newborn child.

You can view the press conference here.

Nearly 136,000 workers in Minnesota would benefit from the program each year, according to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

The Paid Family & Medical Leave Act will need to go through several legislative committees in the coming weeks. Join the movement for Paid Family Leave by liking this Facebook group.