The Support Through Loss Act
If you haven’t heard about it yet, Representative Ayanna Pressley and Senator Tammy Duckworth introduced a new bill: The Support Through Loss Act. If it passes it “would mandate at least three days of paid leave for people who experience pregnancy loss (in the legislation, this includes unsuccessful fertility treatments and failed adoption or surrogacy arrangements). Paid time off would also apply to partners of pregnant people.” It gives funding to NIH for pregnancy loss research and loss data collection.
Yes, we already have the The Family and Medical Leave Act, but that is dependent on the size of the company and the length of time you’ve worked there. This would (hopefully) cover everyone by expanding emotional protections and giving people space to grieve.
You can read the wording on the bill. It’s really a beautiful piece of humanity.
4 comments
Nice. That’s one of my Senators! Sometimes they even make up for the terrible Reps (and halfway decent ones *cough* Kinzinger *cough*) we send to Congress.
I saw this! It is a great idea to help folks going through a difficult — and often little discussed — loss.
Nice idea but I am skeptical. FMLA isn’t even paid, I doubt congress would approve paid leave for this.
I’m so glad. I hope it passes. We brought in the same leave provisions earlier this year (or maybe late last year). Of course, everyone says three days is not enough. But it is a start, and it normalises it, which is really important.