Small Businesses Applaud the Families First Act, Want PAID Act Next

Washington, DC - The Small Business for Paid Leave Coalition applauds this historic moment in providing paid leave for the first time to American workers and businesses. The passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act is a sorely needed urgent first step in addressing the crisis of health, pay and care exposed through this pandemic. 

This bill must be signed into law immediately. Today’s passage is important, and we need to do more. Not only do we need to shore up emergency legislation with real protections for small business owners, but we must also look to the long term and make sure paid sick days and longer time to care through paid leave become a foundation in our economy.  

We support the PAID Act sponsored by Senators Murray and Gillibrand which would do both -- swiftly reimburse employers for all paid sick days and paid leave in 2020 and 2021, and establish national programs for earned sick time and a self-sustaining family and medical leave insurance program for all workers that are critical supports for to put in place for any next crisis.

###

The Small Business for Paid Leave Coalition is supporting small business owners as they speak out on how a publicly managed and funded paid family and medical leave program is good for all of us. Its members include Main Street Alliance, American Sustainable Business Council, Family Values @ Work, MomsRising, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, National Partnership on Women and Families, and Small Business Majority.