President Biden renewed his promise to enact paid family leave, make child care more affordable and invest in early childhood education at a caregiving rally in Washington DC on Tuesday.
In front of an audience of 200 caregivers and activists, he recalled how his parents became the caregivers of his two sons following the death of his first wife Neilia and their daughter Naomi, aged 13 months, in a car accident . And he pledged to use a second presidential term to enact historical care laws— including the nation’s first national paid family leave policy, something Glamor has long been campaign for.
“As president, I am here with a simple message. I give you my word, I support you,” he told the crowd to applause.
“Take paid leave. We are the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee paid leave. We are going to change that. In the United States of America, no one – no one should choose between caring for a parent who grew up them, a child who depends on them, or the salary they need.
“It’s high time America caught up with the rest of the world on paid leave.
“All of this helps families and grows the economy,” he continued. “And we can afford it.” We cannot afford not to.
It was Biden’s highest-profile speech on care since the failure of the Build Back Better bill in 2021. At the rally, organized by the Care Can’t Wait Action coalition, he also promised the expansion a child tax credit for working families (targeting Republicans who let the benefit expire), and a plan to create child care available to families starting at $10 a day .
“We are going to ensure affordable, quality child care,” he said. “Most families – under our plan, most families will pay less than $10 per day per child, saving millions of people up to $7,000 per year.”
This comes just a day after he announced a new effort to help pay off the student loans of millions of American borrowers. And both appearances provide insight into the president’s upcoming election campaign.
During the event, which included a number of speakers from paid leave for all to care between generations, Tiffany Mrotek—one of the mothers of Glamour 28 day project– told the audience: “Like millions of new moms, I struggled with postpartum depression after the birth of my son Porter and desperately needed paid time to get back to myself and my identity From mom. »
She continued: “Even though I had some time, I ended my maternity leave feeling like it was almost enough time. I am heartbroken for parents who do not have this privilege. We want all women and new parents to have the opportunity to take that pause and be present.
Sign the petition to pass paid leave here.
