OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Paid Sick Leave

Floor Speech

Date: March 9, 2020
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Employment and Affirmative Action Health and Health Care

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Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, as we confront the coronavirus epidemic, one thing is clear: Everyone should follow the CDC's recommendations to stay healthy and safe. That means staying home if you are feeling sick.

If we want people to follow that important guidance, though, we must make it economically viable to do so. That is why I rise today in support of critical legislation introduced by Congresswoman DeLauro to ensure that working families receive paid sick leave in the event of a public health emergency like the coronavirus epidemic.

The concept is simple: We want people to stay home if they are feeling sick so they don't spread the coronavirus or other illnesses to others. But not everyone can afford to do that. Many families live paycheck to paycheck, struggling to pay their bills each month. Taking unpaid sick leave simply isn't an option for them.

With the severity of the crisis we are facing, we cannot force working people to choose between going to work and spreading their illness to others or staying home and getting behind on their bills.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Congresswoman DeLauro's bill.

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