Extend and expand universal maternity leave to 26 paid weeks at 75% of regular pay

Proper child development requires a strong bond with the mother that must start forming at the early beginnings of life. Most other industrialized countries have already situated the importance of this and have adopted a standard of 7-12 months of paid maternity leave. What we are petitioning for is a mere 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, far less than our children deserve, however, with our current economic situation, it is difficult to request a higher, more adequate standard of healthcare. While 26 weeks of paid leave is less than what is necessary, it is a far greater alternative to the current federal Family and Medical Leave Act which offers only a12 weeks of unpaid leave. This petition requests for a family to maintain a standard of living while fulfilling parental responsibilities