*PLEASE DO NOT DONATE MONEY*

Paid maternity leave continues to be a debate in the United States. Our first goal is to get paid maternity leave in the state of Maryland, while our second goal is to get paid maternity leave programs enacted throughout the United States. California, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island have implemented paid maternity leave programs. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, Washington D.C., and Washington state have passed new programs that are waiting to be implemented. Studies have shown that maternity leave has benefits for the mother and the child, such as physical, mental, fiscal, and developmental well-being. The United States is one of the few countries that does not have a uniform paid maternity leave system. Paid maternity leave as well as the gender pay gap makes it very difficult for women to remain in the workforce. Additionally, unpaid maternity leave disproportionately affects women of color. By signing this petition, you are showing your support for paid maternity leave programs to be established across the United States.