NEWS RELEASE
Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
Minnesota House of Representatives
District 49B – 651-296-7449– rep.carlie.kotyza-witthuhn@house.mn.gov
567 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marlee Schlegel
651-296-9873 or marlee.schlegel@house.mn.gov
May 2, 2023
Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn celebrates the passage of Paid Family and Medical Leave
SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Today, the Minnesota House passed HF 2, known as Paid Family and Medical Leave. The bill is designed to provide Minnesota workers up to 18 total weeks of paid family leave to care for family or themselves. The program is funded by small contributions from both employers and employees, meaning lost wages from time off will be recovered by the State fund, not employers.
Every day in Minnesota, workers face the impossible choice of either going to work to earn a paycheck or staying home to take care of themselves or a family member. While some workers have jobs that provide paid sick leave or family leave, thousands of Minnesotans do not have access to a single paid day off. Those in the lowest wage positions and our BIPOC community members face stark disparities in access to these benefits.
Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL – Eden Prairie) is a co-author of the legislation and voted in support. She issued the following statement:
“The United States is a global outlier when it comes to paid leave. We talk often in the legislature about how to best serve Minnesota’s children and families. This bill not only allows workers the flexibility to provide care when illness or tragedy hits, but knowing this safety net is there will help Minnesotans feel supported as they start or expand their family. Not everyone grows their family in the same way, and I will continue to advocate for the inclusion of foster care and adoption in coverage. DFLers are determined to make Minnesota the best place to raise a family, and this bill is a major step towards that.”
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