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Today is the first day that federal workers have 12 weeks of paid parental leave (moms and dads). It’s been a journey, but one I’m extremely proud of....
Five years ago, I was 12 weeks pregnant with my third child and working in the Pentagon as a federal employee. While briefing the Secretary of Defense for a bilateral meeting, I hemorrhaged and began months of a high risk pregnancy.
Almost every sick and vacation day I had went to doctor appointments and days for bed rest to protect the baby. By the time we were preparing to welcome sweet Georgie, I had less than two weeks of paid time remaining for maternity leave.
Until today, federal workers didn’t have parental leave. Like most Americans (80% don’t have any paid family leave), federal workers cobbled together sick/vacation time or took unpaid time.
I came back to work after a few weeks at home with baby Georgie. I was lucky. 1/4 women in America return to work after 10-14 days of giving birth. This is wrong, I knew it then, know it now, and am proud work to help change it.
Today, the country’s largest employer sets an example - all workers should have paid family leave. Today marks a small step, but a good one.
I’m proud to have helped in some small way - along with colleagues at @BPC_Bipartisan and @forbestate - to help pass the law that established federal worker paid leave ... but we aren’t done.
We need to expand and extend the emergency covid paid leave. New parents don’t qualify...in fact most workers don’t qualify because of the cap where companies with 500 employees or more are exempt.
After COVID, we need to pass a national paid leave program. It will improve our economy and strengthen families. We are one of the only developed countries without a national paid leave program
THANK YOU to all my pentagon colleagues who stepped up to help during the tough pregnancy and gave me precious time with Georgie (and allowed her to come to work sometimes 
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THANK YOU to all the paid leave advocates who helped push for the parental policy and continue to push. Especially the policymakers who championed federal worker leave that starts today: @RepHoulahan, @IvankaTrump, @HASCDemocrats, and @RepMaloney.
THANK YOU to our beautiful baby Georgia for inspiring me and for making our family laugh every day.
