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Faith Leaders, State Lawmakers and Advocates Come Together to Support Paid Family Leave Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS

Michelle Nealy, mnealy@faithinpubliclife.org, (202) 735-7123
William Miller, wmiller@mercuryllc.com, (786)301-8049
Joey McKinnon, jmckinnon@faithinpubliclife.org, (843)364-4403

Faith Leaders, State Lawmakers and Advocates Come Together to Support Paid Family Leave Legislation

Tallahassee, Fla. – On Tuesday, January 28th at 11:30 a.m., faith leaders from across Florida from the nonpartisan faith-based group Faith in Public Life will join state lawmakers and grassroots advocates to urge the Florida Legislature to support legislation for paid family leave.

The Florida Family Leave Act, a bill filed by State Senator Janet Cruz and State Representative Tracie Davis (HB 889 and SB 1194), would require Florida employers to create provisions to allow new mothers to take paid family leave to bond with a new child upon the child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement. Despite bipartisan support for similar legislation across the nation, this bill has still not had a hearing in committee this legislative session. 

Increasing paid family leave is shown to reduce infant mortality. Yet 1 in 4 women are forced to return to work within 2 weeks of having given birth, putting the health of newborn infants and postpartum women at risk. Studies have shown that paid family leave reduces costly turnover, increases employee retention, and improves productivity; additionally, inclusive paid family leave can even help close the gender wage gap by helping women to stay in the workforce and rise to leadership roles.  

WHAT: Paid Family Leave Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, January 28th at 11:30 AM

WHERE: State Capitol Rotunda, 4th floor, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399

WHO: 

Rep. Tracie Davis, House District 13 

Sen. Janet Cruz, Senate District 18

Rev. Don Tolliver, New Bethel Missionary Baptist

Rev. Tom Holdcraft, St. Stephen Lutheran Church

Angie Nixon, an impacted citizen from Jacksonville and member of SEIU

Supporters from across the state

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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirms our values and the human dignity of all.

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