Congrats, Molly!

I'm a proud Dad to two smart, funny, and fun children, Molly and Patrick. Just a few days ago, we celebrated Molly's high school graduation.

This Father's Day, I was a little nostalgic for all of the simple moments with my kids from their childhoods – long walks exploring the neighborhood, movie nights, making school lunches, reading – and re-reading – all of the Harry Potter books, and so many others.

For years our office has had a pretty common-sense policy: 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents. I want every child and parent or caregiver to share these experiences, and so, I'm fighting for a federally-mandated Paid Family Leave. Join me by signing this petition calling on Congress to strengthen family leave laws.

Here's my thinking:

• U.S. policies come from a 25-year-old Family and Medical Leave Act, which is due for an update.
• The United States is one of the few nations without paid family leave.
• Paid family leave improves health outcomes for infants and children.
• Economists have found that paid family leave: eases financial burdens; increases the probability that new mothers will return to employment later; and despite the messaging of corporate lobbyists, paid leave does not harm businesses.

Federally, parents are guaranteed 12 weeks of unpaid leave via the Family Medical Leave Act – and that's only if you work for a company that employs over 50 people.

That means more than half of American businesses don't have to guarantee leave. For the richest country on Earth, that is shameful and must be addressed. Sign the petition and tell my colleagues in Congress: strengthen our parental leave laws.

Jim