We must invest in workers and families now

Thirty years ago the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was signed into law. It was a huge step forward and has been a lifeline for countless workers nationwide. For the first time, workers facing a personal or family emergency could take leave without fear of losing their jobs.

Now it's time to take the next step forward: we must build on the progress of the FMLA by guaranteeing paid leave for everyone.

We are the only industrialized nation in the world that does not guarantee workers paid time off. This forces parents to choose between caring for their sick child or being able to pay bills and put food on the table. It forces workers to choose between caring for an aging parent or paying their rent.

Poverty is a policy choice. And by not guaranteeing every worker in our country the right to paid leave, we are forcing countless Americans to make impossible decisions. It's past time our labor laws meet the needs of our 21st-century workforce and economy, so all of us can thrive.

That's why I'm on the front lines advocating to get paid leave over the finish line. The road may be tough, but the battle for the FMLA thirty years ago is proof that progress is possible.

We must invest in workers and families now, and you can count on me to stand firm in this fight.

Ron