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House Approves Paid Leave…Next Stop, the Senate


Late last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that would provide four weeks of paid family and medical leave for all employees and independent contractors.

That legislation, called the Build Back Better Act, is a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda that has been stuck in somewhat of a quagmire in Congress…despite Democrats having majority control of both the House and Senate.  Readers might recall that paid leave has been on, then off, then back on the table while the House worked to find enough votes to approve the legislation.

With the legislation clearing the House, it now heads to the Senate where its passage is no sure thing.  Despite Democrats having a narrow majority in the Senate, some Democratic Senators including Joe Manchin have indicated their opposition to paid leave being included in the Build Back Better Act due to the cost of the paid leave.  Will a compromise be reached that would result in paid leave remaining in the legislation the Senate approves?  I think it is certainly possible but not a certainty.  Stay tuned.


For additional information:  https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/19/house-passes-bill-with-once-in-a-generation-paid-family-leave.html

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