Mandate paid parental leave for all parents.

The United States is the only industrialized nation not to offer paid maternity leave. While the United States takes great pride in its family values, it is the only high-income country that does not offer a paid leave program. Without paid parental leave, many women struggle to afford time off to take care of themselves and their newborns after the birth of a new child. Over 40 percent have to take unpaid leave, and a quarter either quit or are let go from their jobs when a new child arrives. Among those who receive only partial pay or no pay at all during leave, the financial hardship is clear: a third borrow money, dip into savings, and/or put off paying bills, and 15 percent even have to go on public assistance to get through. Paid leave will help new mothers and their families.