MADISON - Today, Representative Francesca Hong (D-Madison), alongside Representatives Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee), Alex Joers (D-Waunakee) and Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee), reintroduced Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) legislation to address the crises of affordability, workers’ rights, and public health that continue to affect communities across Wisconsin.

Under current law, Wisconsin workers have no right to paid family and medical leave. LRB-0467 would establish the right to this leave, allocating one-time state funding of $258 million to jump-start the program. As well as creating a paid family and medical leave program in Wisconsin, the bill would make significant improvements to Wisconsin’s unpaid leave law, the Family and Medical Leave Law — these include expanding coverage and eligibility, as well as increasing the amount of leave available.

Representative Hong (D-76) issued the following statement:

“As it stands, our constituents lack an absolutely essential right. Without paid leave, workers are forced to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for loved ones, welcoming a new baby, or recovering from illness or injury. For many folks, missing a paycheck means making sacrifices on rent, insurance payments, utilities, medical bills, groceries, or medications.

Not only is this unjust; it is unnecessary. Our state has ample funding to strengthen our workforce, bolster our economy, retain employees in our state, and enshrine social and economic justice into law. As the affordability crisis persists for Wisconsin families while wealth continues to accumulate for the ultra-rich, we must take immediate steps to alleviate financial strains and protect our workers.

The status quo is unacceptable to the vast majority of Wisconsinites. Inaction is not an option; bold, firm, and community-oriented legislation is demanded of us, by this moment and by the people.”