Every member of Congress has access to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Every American deserves the same thing. 

The United States is one of only seven countries without paid maternity leave, and one of 83 without paid paternity leave (New York Times, 2021). Many countries started offering paid leave in the 1920s. The United States only began offering 12 weeks of unpaid leave in the 1990s. In contrast, new mothers worldwide get an average of 29 weeks of paid leave, while new fathers get an average of 16 weeks (New York Times, 2021). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fewer than 30% of American workers have access to paid leave across civilian, private industry, and government employment (2023). This means that most American parents are forced to choose between sacrificing income to care for their children and time spent with their children in formative weeks. 

In 2025, Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo) pushed for proxy voting, so that they could be there for their constituents and their families while they were on leave caring for newborns. I challenge them to push for 12 weeks of parental leave for everyone, so that all Americans can be there for their families.  

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Image credit: New York Times 

Sources: 

https://www.bls.gov/ebs/factsheets/family-leave-benefits-fact-sheet.htm​

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/25/upshot/paid-leave-democrats.html#:~:text=Existing%20family%20leave%20policies%20in,from%20a%20tax%20on%20billionaires​

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/nx-s1-5347921/congress-proxy-voting-new-parents