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WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh urges the General Assembly to pass The Family Care Act to improve the health and well-being of Pennsylvanian families; and,
WHEREAS, this program allows paid leave for parents experiencing significant life happenings such as, the period following the birth, adoption of child or a child recovering from illness, or a family matter related to military deployment; and,
WHEREAS, the passage of this act will enable family members to provide critical care and rehab services to elderly loved ones at home, without risking their jobs and financial security. It will allow workers to care for themselves following a major surgery. Additionally, a safe leave for domestic violence victims; and,[BP1]
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has one of the oldest populations with 19.1% of the population aged 65 or older. Granting a family member time off for an elderly parent helps alleviate the nursing home decision for the parent or child; and,
WHEREAS, nursing home care costs taxpayers over $3.2 billion a year. Pennsylvania's Medicaid expenditures for individuals aged 65 and older who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare total approximately $3 billion. Therefore, the Family Care Act will facilitate the fiscal health and responsibility for our state; and,
WHEREAS, The Family Care Act, funded by a small employee payroll deduction, will enable small businesses to effectively compete - without shouldering the financial burden. Studies have shown that there is an increase in worker retention and productivity when businesses have these paid leave policies, which is paramount for small businesses; and,
WHEREAS, The Paid Family Medical Leave supports hardworking middle-class families time-off to help loved ones on a sliding pay scale and strengthen the bedrock of our economy. According to the PA Department of Labor report, 78 percent of Pennsylvania adults favor establishing a statewide program, and 56 percent of employers favor creating a statewide...
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