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Tell Congress That Americans Need Paid Parental Leave
  1. Signatures
    174 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. The President of the United States (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The President of the United States
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
  2. Created By
    Alex DiBranco
    New York, NY
About this Petition Petition Letter

The United States occupies a shocking position behind other developed countries when it comes to providing parental leave.

Mothers receive a mere 12 weeks unpaid leave after giving birth, which women living paycheck to paycheck cannot afford. Men don't even get that.

In contrast, a country like Sweden offers over a year paid maternity or paternity leave, which has such positive repercussions as lowering divorce rates and creating a more gender-equal society.

It's time for the United States to catch up with its peers and invest in something important: American families.

Tell Congress that Americans need paid parental leave today.

Photo credit: pierre bédat [So Out...]

Recent Signatures

Americans Need Paid Parental Leave

Greetings,

The United States lags far behind its peers when it comes to family-friendly policies. Women receive a mere 12 weeks unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, which is no use at all to parents living paycheck to paycheck, while men don't even receive that.

This is unacceptable. The U.S. needs to puts its resources behind American families and act in the best interests of American children. As one of your constituents, I ask that you introduce and support legislation for paid parental leave for all Americans.

Furthermore, it is important that this leave include both maternity and paternity leave. Countries like Sweden, which provide equal leave, saw lower divorce rates and increase rates of joint custody as a result, as well as more wage and career opportunities for women. A just society values the contributions of both parents to child-rearing, and allows parents to figure out for themselves who is in the best position to take time off work and spend additional time with the kids.

America needs to hold its head high amongst its peers, which means providing pro-family policies to rival any of them. And it's the right thing to do for working mothers and fathers in America.

[Your name]

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