Gallego Backs the FAMILY Act to Guarantee Universal Paid Leave

Legislation would create a permanent, national paid family and medical leave program

WASHINGTON - Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) backed the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act to guarantee up to 12 weeks of partial income for workers who have to take leave for serious medical and family events. Paid medical and family leave is especially helpful for new parents and older Americans, who are more likely to have health issues or caregiving obligations for older relatives.

"I was lucky to be able to take paternity leave when I had my kids, but for too many families, especially working-class families, paid family leave is simply not an option, and they can't afford to take time off without it," said Senator Gallego. "By guaranteeing 12 weeks of paid time off for medical and family events, we can make sure no Arizonan is ever forced to choose between their health, their family, and their paycheck."

The FAMILY Act delivers a key solution to the country's public health and economic challenges and is modeled on successful state programs. Currently, 73 percent of American workers do not have access to paid leave despite a large body of research showing that paid leave improves workers' mental health, boosts employee retention and productivity, and helps businesses. Additionally, working families lose $22.5 billion per year in wages due to a lack of paid family and medical leave.

The FAMILY Act would provide workers with paid leave for a range of major life events, including:

• Recovering from their own serious health condition;
• Caring for a family member with a serious health condition;
• Bonding with a new child-whether newborn, adopted, or placed through foster care;
• Handling responsibilities related to a family member's military deployment;
• Taking "safe leave" to respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Read the full bill HERE.

Earlier this year, Senator Gallego supported Child Care for Working Families Act to ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need.

12/10/25