Washington, D.C. -- As the United States Congress continues to refine the Build Back Better plan, the undersigned organizations representing the aging and caregiving communities issued the following statement: 
 
We applaud the inclusion of paid family and medical leave in the House’s Build Back Better Plan, and we urge Congressional leaders to continue working together to ensure this policy is passed into law. Paid leave can support working families, grow the economy and protect our nation's public health.

We were appalled when paid family and medical leave for working families was not included in the framework released last week, dealing a devastating blow to our nation’s 53 million family caregivers who find themselves in the difficult situation of having to choose between work and care for a loved one living with a serious medical condition or disability.

The economic and societal benefits of paid leave are clear. Nearly two in ten employed family caregivers have quit their job and more than four in ten have said they had to go part-time to care for their loved one and nearly half (44%) have had to go part-time because of caregiving responsibilities. Annually, the economy loses more than $20 billion when Americans—primarily women—are forced to choose between their economic wellbeing and caring for a loved one.

Omitting universal paid family leave – that supports care across the lifespan - in the final package would seriously weaken our nation’s ability to address the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, adequately address the long-term consequences of systemic racism and gender inequities that plague families, communities, and our economy.   
 
We will continue to fight for a national paid family and medical leave program to help alleviate the struggle of family caregivers balancing caregiving and workplace responsibilities.

Caregiving is essential work and our elected leaders must get serious about investing in and valuing the essential labor of this growing community.

Organizations

AARP

Alliance for Retired Americans

Alzheimer’s Los Angeles

Alzheimer’s Orange County

American Geriatrics Society

American Society on Aging

APWU Retirees Department

Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Autism Society of America

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network

Barth Syndrome Foundation

Caregiver Action Network

Caregivers on the Homefront

Caring Across Generations

CaringKind, The Heart of Alzheimer's Caregiving

Center to Advance Palliative Care

Community Catalyst

Easterseals

Elizabeth Dole Foundation

FORCE - Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

From The Bottom Up Foundation, Inc

Fund for Community Reparations for Autistic People of Color's Interdependence, Survival, & Empowerment

Genetic Alliance

Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association

Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc.

Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition

HealthyWomen

Hilarity for Charity (HFC)

Justice in Aging

Latinos For A Secure Retirement

Lewy Body Dementia Association

LuMind IDSC Foundation

Medicare Rights Center

National Alliance for Caregiving

National Association for Hispanic Elderly

National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

National Certification Council for Activity Professionals

National Council on Aging

National Indian Council on Aging, Inc.

National Patient Advocate Foundation

National Respite Coalition

National Senior Corps Association

North Carolina Serious Illness Coalition

Ohio Council for Cognitive Health

PHI

PTEN World

PXE International

Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers

The Balm In Gilead, Inc

The Gerontological Society of America

The Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders

The North Carolina Serious Illness Coalition

Triage Cancer

UsAgainstAlzheimer's

Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement